Citizenship, Multiculturalism and Socio-Political Inclusion: Lessons from Canada & the US
Irene BloemraadUniversity of California, Berkeley
Models of Civic Citizenship:
Models of Civic Citizenship:Multiculturalism -
Public RecognitionPublic acknowledgement of ethno-racial backgrounds
Models of Civic Citizenship:Multiculturalism -
Public RecognitionPublic acknowledgement of ethno-racial backgrounds
Public Support
Group claims-making and rights legitimated
Public monies directed to ethno-racial communities
Government Involvement as Problematic:
Objections -
Government Involvement as Problematic:
Objections -
Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity
Government Involvement as Problematic:
Objections -
Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity
Improper use of scarce resources, which are allocated on the wrong basis
Government Involvement as Problematic:
Objections -
Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity
Improper use of scarce resources, which are allocated on the wrong basis
Public dependence undermines civil society
Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship:
Models of Neutral Government -
Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship:
Models of Neutral Government -
French Republican traditionUniversalism through the individual citizen
Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship:
Models of Neutral Government -
French Republican traditionUniversalism through the individual citizen
American pluralist laissez-faire tradition
Equal opportunity and “market pluralism”
Problems with the Neutrality Approach:
Problems with the Neutrality Approach:
Ethnic and immigrant origins are a basis for political mobilization.
Salient to immigrantsPolitical learning through language & cultural ties
Problems with the Neutrality Approach:
Ethnic and immigrant origins are a basis for political mobilization.
Salient to immigrantsPolitical learning through language & cultural ties
Inequality in political resources inequity in political outcomes.
Facilitating political learning and mobilization
Benefits of Government Support:
Benefits of Government Support:
Material ResourcesMoney, technical assistance, policy access
Benefits of Government Support:
Material ResourcesMoney, technical assistance, policy access
Symbolic Impact
Rhetoric of diversity within equality very attractive to immigrants
Concrete support communicates legitimacy
Fostering Citizenship:American citizenship:
Life in the U.S. is flexible. If you go to work you will have money. You have all the necessities that you need. But if you don't work then you won't have any money. …I don't have much more to say because my whole life surrounds only these things. …I also have the freedom to travel. But if I commit a crime then I will go to jail.
Fostering Citizenship:American citizenship:
Life in the U.S. is flexible. If you go to work you will have money. You have all the necessities that you need. But if you don't work then you won't have any money. …I don't have much more to say because my whole life surrounds only these things. …I also have the freedom to travel. But if I commit a crime then I will go to jail.
Canadian citizenship:
It’s just the place that I feel home. [I like] the way the government runs things – I guess the great support, the multiculture stuff, the social assistance. We pay a lot of tax, that’s true. But the great concern of government, the help for the citizens themselves.
Citizenship in the United States and Canada,Adult Immigrants, 1900-2001
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1900/01 1910/11 1920/21 1930/31 1940/41 1950/51 1960/61 1970/71 1980/81 1990/91 2000/01
Per
cen
t N
atu
raliz
ed
US Canada
Canadian figures for non-UK immigrants
U.S. figures for adult males
Index of Foreign-Born Representation in Federal Legislature, Canada and USA, 1900-2001
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1900-01 1910-11 1920-21 1930-31 1940-41 1950-51 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01
rep
res
en
tati
on
ind
ex
Canada USA
Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support foster inclusive, participatory citizenship
Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship
promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?
Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship
promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?
meaningful symbolism – how much government funding is needed to back official recognition?
Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship
promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?
meaningful symbolism – how much government funding is needed to back official recognition?
beyond multiculturalism – other social policies
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