Paper Topic:

Article Review

Name

University of

Lecturer

Date : 21st MARCH 2008

AN OVERVIEW OF MULTICULTURALISM POLICIES AND THE INCREASING LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN IDENTITY WITHIN THE ETHNO-MINORITY OF CANADA

Multiculturalism

The Canadian government has sought to have multiculturalism evolve in the Canadian community so as to seal the ethnic loopholes which lead to racial and social injustices based on race , caste and various backgrounds . The policies are meant to undo all aspects of discriminatory perceptions in the Canadian diverse community . The success of multiculturalism is limited . However it is a challenge

to the history of social cohesion . Cohesion is what makes various cultural backgrounds harmonize their socio-economic interests . In her purge to identify social discontentment within various cultures in Canada Nakhaie (2006 ) explains social injustices through discriminative aspects of the Canadian professionals and other stakeholders of the Canadian authority Socio-economic inequality shows ethno-racial minorities have better qualifications but don 't have confidence in their identity as successful Canadians (pg , 150

According to Patricia Roy (1995 ) the intentions of multiculturalism were basically to break down discriminatory attitudes and cultural jealousies . She quotes the a Canadian prime minister and says National unity in the deeply personal sense must be founded on confidence in one 's own individual identity out of this can grow respect for that of others (pg , 201 ' However the essence of multiculturalism lacks virtue leading the Canadian society to a society of un-equal minority ethnic communities . Patricia seeks to create the picture of increasing racism in Canada

The three pillars on which multiculturalism is built do not really give multiculturalism any autonomy . It rather creates radical rationales within the diverse ethnic cultures in Canada . Racial identity leads to inequality in the social classes , work and rank and income classification leading to disintegration of social justice and equity (150 . Nakhaie draws a picture wherein there is no cohesion but various segments of dis-satisfied multicultural society . Immigrants have poor jobs and poor pay while certain ethnic and social groups enjoy employment and connections within political and social circles . She points out factors leading to this imbalance of social equity as time of immigration , race , period of immigration and language . The consequence of this diversity and complexity in advocacy of multiculturalism is embedded in principals of institutions like the civil service and the civil society as well as other vital institutions . Through them confidence in the principals of multiculturalism might be augmented in the people however , there seems to be an ideological dilemma in trusting the principals in the immigrants

The Canadian government needs to be more versatile in making these institutions of governance compliant to the principals of multiculturalism through embarking and practicing social justice , equity and equal distribution of power and opportunities to all Canadians in-spite of their race , language or origin . Through this , confidence in the principals of a diverse culture will be embraced and the populace will be happy to identify with a diverse Canada . However , current practices have led to difference in opinion about personal identity in various immigrant societies...

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