Izvorni znanstveni članak
Canada: Multiculturalism
Emil Heršak
; Institut za migracije i narodnosti, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ružica Čičak-Chand
; Institut za migracije i narodnosti, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
In the paper, the authors attempt to describe the dimensions and aspects of multiculturalism in the Canadian context. Their first claim is that multiculturalism is one of the possible political solutions for solving the problem of cultural pluralism. Cultural pluralism, per se, is an anthropological state which for a large part develops spontaneously. Summarising the model of Abu-Laban and Mottershead, the authors note four political solutions for cultural pluralism: “corporative” pluralism (e.g. the USSR and Switzerland), “nominal” pluralism (Paraguay, Iceland), “liberal” pluralism (USA) and so-called “integrative” pluralism for which the example is Canada. In the next part of the text, the authors describe the general spatial and historical aspects of Canada, and especially the problem of ambivalence felt by people in a large and geologically old land with a rather shallow stratum of human habitation. After noting this problem, the authors present an overview of settlement to Canada, right until the recent immigration waves. Owing to immigration, the ethnic structure of Canada has changed: in the hundred or so years before 1981, the proportion of people of British descent has fallen from 60% to 40%; the share of Francocanadians has remained about 30%, while the proportion of Canadians of non-British and non-French descent has risen from 10% to 30%. However, the change in the ethnic structure of the country was not the major influence in accepting the policy of multiculturalism. According to the authors, the most important factor for the development of cultural pluralism was the presence of people of French origin in an otherwise British imperial context. The Franco-Canadians were able to continuously increase their num¬bers until the middle of the 20th century, when they were finally included in the trend of demographic transition. Afterwards the political demands of Franco-Canadians for greater autonomy in respect to the dominant Anglo-Canadian context began to grow. Among other factors, in the context of these growing demands Canada entered into a crisis in the sixties. The authors describe the attempts of the Canadian government at this time to plan a new program of bilingualism for the country. At the height of the crisis, the Canadian government opted for the alternative concept of “multiculturalism in a bilingual framework”. In the following section of the paper, the authors describe the general characteristics of the new “multicultural” policy, noting various (Canadian) criticism in regard to the significance and scope of multiculturalism in Canada. Finally, they offer three general conclusions: first – multiculturalism may actually facilitate the adaptation of immigrants to the Canadian milieu; second – unless ethnic minorities find a practical and specific role for their languages, multiculturalism will not stop linguistic assimilation; third – the situation in the home countries of ethnic minorities is very important for their affirmation in Canada (i.e. in the context of multiculturalism).
Ključne riječi
multiculturalism; ethnic pluralism; ethnic structure; immigration; Canada
Hrčak ID:
127444
URI
Datum izdavanja:
31.5.1991.
Posjeta: 5.024 *