Aspects of Canadian multiculturalism : history, policy, theory and impact

Title: Aspects of Canadian multiculturalism : history, policy, theory and impact
Variant title:
  • Aspects du multiculturalisme canadien : histoire, politique, théorie, impact
Source document: The Central European journal of Canadian studies. 2014, vol. 9, iss. [1], pp. 27-44
Extent
27-44
  • ISSN
    1213-7715 (print)
    2336-4556 (online)
Type: Article
Language
License: Not specified license
Rights access
embargoed access
 

Notice: These citations are automatically created and might not follow citation rules properly.

Abstract(s)
This article looks into the history of Canadian multiculturalism by surveying its political and economic background, its roots in political theory, its implementation by policy makers and its impact on Canadian cultural life, as well as the major challenges and criticisms it has been facing since the early 1970s. The government policy of multiculturalism was not an idealistic philosophy but a political necessity which was aimed at establishing a Canadian national identity to be shared by all. Although multiculturalism played an important role in helping minority cultures become visible and recognised by mainstream Canada, the difficulties in creating such a uniform national identity based on the diversity of minority cultures is demonstrated by exactly the works and theoretical debates which arose in the aftermath of the implementation of the multiculturalism policy.
Cet article se penche sur l'histoire du multiculturalisme canadien en sondant son contexte politique et économique, ses racines dans la théorie politique, sa mise en oeuvre par les décideurs politiques et son impact sur la vie culturelle canadienne. Ainsi, l'article examine les principaux défis et critiques auxquels le multiculturalisme a été confronté depuis le début des années 1970. La politique gouvernementale du multiculturalisme n'est pas une philosophie idéaliste, mais une nécessité politique qui tente d'établir une identité nationale canadienne pouvant être partagée par tous les Canadiens. Bien que le multiculturalisme ait joué un rôle important en aidant les cultures minoritaires à devenir visibles et intégrées à la société canadienne, les difficultés dans la création d'une telle identité nationale uniforme fondée sur la diversité des cultures minoritaires est démontrée par les travaux et les débats théoriques consécutifs à la mise en oeuvre de la politique du multiculturalisme.
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