Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence

Abstract The main purpose of this article is to formulate a defence of the emerging intercultural policy paradigm for the benefit of those who are still somewhat reluctant to accept its proper place within the current migration-related diversity policy debate. My defence will take two main lines of...

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Main Author: Ricard Zapata-Barrero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2017-09-01
Series:Comparative Migration Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40878-017-0057-z
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author Ricard Zapata-Barrero
author_facet Ricard Zapata-Barrero
author_sort Ricard Zapata-Barrero
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The main purpose of this article is to formulate a defence of the emerging intercultural policy paradigm for the benefit of those who are still somewhat reluctant to accept its proper place within the current migration-related diversity policy debate. My defence will take two main lines of argumentation: Firstly, I will state that the increasing intensity of the intercultural policy paradigm must be placed in the present-day post-multicultural period, which recognizes the strengths ​​of the multicultural policy paradigm but also the limits to its process for recognizing differences. The role played by the emerging national civic policy paradigm (a renovated version of assimilation), prioritizing duties before rights, will also be considered crucial to better contextualize interculturalism. Secondly, I will try to identify the main distinctive features of interculturalism, which legitimize its proper place within the diversity debate today. Without rejecting rights-based and duties-based policy approaches, interculturalism places more emphasis on a contacts-based policy approach, aimed at fostering communication and relationships among people from different backgrounds, including national citizens. This approach focuses on common bonds rather than differences. It also views diversity as an advantage and a resource, and centres its policy goals on community cohesion and reframing a common public culture that places diversity within rather than outside the so-called Unity. In reviewing the current literature and the origins of the intercultural policy paradigm, I restate its contribution towards resolving current trends in transnationalism, changing identities, superdiversity and the rise of populist anti-immigrant parties. These are issues the old multicultural project has struggled to deal with, which has provoked the current disillusionment. Lastly, I will propose a research avenue to further consolidate interculturalism as a distinctive and legitimate policy approach.
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spelling doaj.art-47fde967704342d29156dea0583b1a572022-12-22T01:53:43ZengSpringerOpenComparative Migration Studies2214-594X2017-09-015112310.1186/s40878-017-0057-zInterculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defenceRicard Zapata-Barrero0GRITIM-UPF (Interdisciplinary Research Group on Immigration), Department of Social and Political Science, Universitat Pompeu FabraAbstract The main purpose of this article is to formulate a defence of the emerging intercultural policy paradigm for the benefit of those who are still somewhat reluctant to accept its proper place within the current migration-related diversity policy debate. My defence will take two main lines of argumentation: Firstly, I will state that the increasing intensity of the intercultural policy paradigm must be placed in the present-day post-multicultural period, which recognizes the strengths ​​of the multicultural policy paradigm but also the limits to its process for recognizing differences. The role played by the emerging national civic policy paradigm (a renovated version of assimilation), prioritizing duties before rights, will also be considered crucial to better contextualize interculturalism. Secondly, I will try to identify the main distinctive features of interculturalism, which legitimize its proper place within the diversity debate today. Without rejecting rights-based and duties-based policy approaches, interculturalism places more emphasis on a contacts-based policy approach, aimed at fostering communication and relationships among people from different backgrounds, including national citizens. This approach focuses on common bonds rather than differences. It also views diversity as an advantage and a resource, and centres its policy goals on community cohesion and reframing a common public culture that places diversity within rather than outside the so-called Unity. In reviewing the current literature and the origins of the intercultural policy paradigm, I restate its contribution towards resolving current trends in transnationalism, changing identities, superdiversity and the rise of populist anti-immigrant parties. These are issues the old multicultural project has struggled to deal with, which has provoked the current disillusionment. Lastly, I will propose a research avenue to further consolidate interculturalism as a distinctive and legitimate policy approach.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40878-017-0057-zDiversityInterculturalismPublic policyXenophobiaMulticulturalismNational civic policy
spellingShingle Ricard Zapata-Barrero
Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence
Comparative Migration Studies
Diversity
Interculturalism
Public policy
Xenophobia
Multiculturalism
National civic policy
title Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence
title_full Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence
title_fullStr Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence
title_full_unstemmed Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence
title_short Interculturalism in the post-multicultural debate: a defence
title_sort interculturalism in the post multicultural debate a defence
topic Diversity
Interculturalism
Public policy
Xenophobia
Multiculturalism
National civic policy
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40878-017-0057-z
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