Understanding Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism has long been linked to calls for tolerance of cultural diversity, but today many observers are subjecting the concept to close scrutiny. After the political upheavals of 1968, the commitment to multiculturalism was perceived as a liberal manifesto, but in the post-9/11 era, it is under attack for its relativizing, particularist, and essentializing implications. The essays in this collection offer a nuanced analysis of the multifaceted cultural experience of Central Europe under the late Habsburg monarchy and beyond. The authors examine how culturally coded social spaces can be described and understood historically without adopting categories formerly employed to justify the definition and separation of groups into nations, ethnicities, or homogeneous cultures. As we consider the issues of multiculturalism today, this volume offers new approaches to understanding multiculturalism in Central Europe freed of the effects of politically exploited concepts of social spaces.

Taking the discussion about cultural diversity beyond the usual topics of anti-racism and inclusion but without overlooking these issues, Understanding Cultural Diversity in the Early Years considers current debates around the alleged failure of multiculturalism, and encourages practitioners to utilize their own cultural backgrounds and experiences as a way of developing their teaching. With an optimistic outlook, and focusing on the advantages for learning that cultural diversity can offer, the book discusses the concepts of culture, multi-culturalism and inter-cultural competence, and describes the principles that underpin good practice. It is packed full of case studies from a variety of early years settings, with ideas to try out and interactive exercises to aid reflection.

Taking the discussion about cultural diversity beyond the usual topics of anti-racism and inclusion but without overlooking these issues, this book considers current debates around the alleged failure of multiculturalism, and encourages practitioners to utilise their own cultural backgrounds and experiences as a way of developing their teaching. With an optimistic outlook, and focusing on the advantages for learning that cultural diversity can offer, the book discusses the concepts of culture, multi-culturalism and inter-cultural competence, and describes the principles that underpin good practice. It is packed full of case studies from a variety of early years settings, with ideas to try out and interactive exercises to aid reflection. Issues covered in the book include: - addressing cultural diversity in staff meetings, and on short training courses - planning a critical audit of your setting - working with parents from a variety of cultural backgrounds - how to explain diversity to young children - the overwhelmingly white British setting - settings where white British children are in the minority - curriculum developments in different parts of the UK, post-devolution Written for all early childhood students and early years practitioners, it is relevant to anyone interested in inclusion, society and global citizenship. Peter Baldock has worked extensively in early years education as a teacher, in community development, in registration and inspection of early years services, and as an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. His publications include three books on early years services, and he is actively involved in Sheffield′s 0-19+ Partnership on behalf of the voluntary sector.

The first edition of this book constituted a comprehensive resource for students of higher education, faculty, higher education administrators and student affairs leaders engaging with multiculturalism and diverse populations on college campuses. It was one of the first texts to gather in a single volume the related theories, assessment methods, and environmental and application issues pertinent to the study and practice of multiculturalism, while also offering approaches to enhancing multicultural programming and culturally diverse campus environments. This second edition retains the structure and vision of the first, introducing readers to the key theories and models for understanding the complexity of the students they serve, and for reflecting on their own values and motivations. It provides an array of case studies, discussion questions, examples of best practice, and recommendations about resources for use in the classroom. This edition includes a new chapter on intersectionality, updates several chapters, presents a number of new cultural frameworks and updated best practices for creating an inclusive environment for marginalized groups, and expands the third section of the book on cultural competent practice.

In the 1950s and 1960s, immigration bureaucrats in the Department of Citizenship and Immigration played an important yet unacknowledged role in transforming Canada’s immigration policy. In response to external economic and political pressures for change, high-level bureaucrats developed new admissions criteria gradually and experimentally while personally processing thousands of individual immigration cases per year. Making Middle-Class Multiculturalism shows how bureaucrats’ perceptions and judgements about the admissibility of individuals – in socioeconomic, racial, and moral terms – influenced the creation of formal admissions criteria for skilled workers and family immigrants that continue to shape immigration to Canada. A qualitative content analysis of archival documents, conducted through the theoretical lens of a cultural sociology of immigration policy, reveals that bureaucrats’ interpretations of immigration files generated selection criteria emphasizing not just economic utility, but also middle-class traits and values such as wealth accumulation, educational attainment, entrepreneurial spirit, resourcefulness, and a strong work ethic. By making "middle-class multiculturalism" a demographic reality and basis of nation-building in Canada, these state actors created a much-admired approach to managing racial diversity that has nevertheless generated significant social inequalities.

No one in this country is untouched by the impact of diversity. Yet, as diverse as diversity is, are too the many different emotions and attitudes evoked by diversity. As a nation, we are not well equipped to deal with the swirling transitions that are converging on us on a daily basis because of the nature of being the most diverse country in the world.This text will well serve the purpose for many who decide to learn and teach the fundamentals of cultural diversity. It will be beneficial for college students, high school juniors and seniors, and organizations whose ever-changing workforce leads to the necessity of educating employees on how to deal with the diversity of employees and customers in a positive manner. This timely publication is filled with current and relevant examples taken from pop culture: from TV shows, song lyrics, and poetry of the times. These excerpts make this publication much more interesting and easy for the reader to relate to and understand.

This book on multiculturalism is a collection of valuable readings presented in perspectives and experiences. It examines multiculturalism and diversity in the modern nation state as economic and political pressures put a lot of stress on noble ideas, inc

As more and more teachers are asking themselves how to address such a diverse student body, the need for Garcia's text will continue to grow. The author is a leader in the field of cultural and linguistic diversity. The second edition is updated with the latest statistics, research and coverage of key topics.