Paper Example on Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism has, for quite some time, been a heated and significantly controversial subject of discussion in Britain. In search of better living standards, employment, and security, many foreign individuals move to Britain. When such immigrants stable, they become less inclined to leave. This aspect has led to a gathering of a diverse set of cultures in Britain. Multiculturalism identifies as one inevitable aspect in any society that endeavors to grow and develop at the pace of other international communities - as technology gets. Multiculturalism is founded on the frameworks of and revolves around the construct of social responses and change towards new cultural diversities. The concept identifies with identity, unity, freedom, and social recognition. In Britain, Multiculturalism is a cornerstone upon which the contemporary nationalism, growth, and development are founded. However, as the problems of identity in nation persist, Multiculturalism does not present an ideal approach to the challenge. Despite its importance, Multiculturalism has somewhat added to the list of aspects that fuel social prejudice, especially towards the ethnic minorities.

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Introduction

The world, as we know it today, has become more or less of a global village. This is as a result of globalization. Technology has established profound levels of efficiency when it comes to transportation and communication - as an aspect that has enhanced integrating and connectivity among members of diverse social origins. As a result, the heterogeneity of ethnicity and cultural identities has, over time, created concern and awareness of the importance to satisfy or fulfill the management of cultural diversity. This brings in the concept of Multiculturalism. Multiculturalism can be defined as the doctrine that people fostering different ways of life, including cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs, can coexist as one community or social environment in a manner that is peaceful and positive to the common objectives of growth and development. The concept promotes the desire of individuals to present themselves in their true nature and form. Cultures and traditions present some of the most prominent elements of identity. Today, Britain identifies as one of the most culturally diverse society in the world.

There are many benefits associated with the practice. The main advantage of Multiculturalism is that it enriches a society in term of knowledge, performance, and integrity through the lenses of diversity. Pluralism in Great Britain has contributed to the nation's cultural and economic vitality. The rich cultures and linguistic diversities had made British a very attractive business destination for small business entrepreneurs as well as multinational companies. Multiculturalism has been adopted in Britain and in most parts of the globe as a comprehensive answer and a systematic mechanism to most of the cultural and ethnic diversity problems (Kim, 2011). However, in as much as we would wish to judge that Multiculturalism is a democratic response to solving the many challenges of cultural diversity, in-depth research and analysis of multiculturalists' policies have shown that there are many limitations of using Multiculturalism in the diversity domain.

To begin with, Heath (2012) identifies Multiculturalism as a prominent pretext of racial discrimination, marginalization, and oppressive stereotypical identities. Theorists who have taken great interest in reflecting Multiculturalism, particularly in relation to its influence in Britain society, tend to focus on the impacts of the concept on minority groups. According to Kim (2011), research has shown that despite the increasing public knowledge and emphasis on the importance embracing Multiculturalism and integration of diversity, very little concern and efforts are made to recognize the rights for minority groups such as gays, lesbians, cultist, black women and the disabled. Heath (2012), adds that the element of equity, as it relates to the minorities, is lacking across the socio-political and economic space of the nation.

While the concept of Multiculturalism plays a major role in ensuring peaceful coexistence of different people as a collective community, it does not effectively solve the problems of Identity in Britain. In some case, it actually enhances them. The capacity to accommodate other people way of life and thinking are can only be limited to the extent to which the individual acknowledges the new practices and ways of life. In some case, cultural practice identifying two different people may conflict. In this case, among many other contexts, multicultural discrimination becomes inherent. In Britain, multicultural discrimination is evident across different domain (Heath, 2012). Such areas include the labor market, the health sector, and the education system. For instance, in London, language communities and other linguistic identities are predominantly used to identify social classes. The minority ethnic groups are given limited opportunities to participate in major economic and political functions. As a result of Multiculturalism, elements of individuals within the minority domain, especially those which can be used to segregate, become general knowledge that, more often than not, is used by the 'betters' to for social intimidation.

The belief that minorities reside in isolation is not entirely true in Britain. Britain portrays a picture of an integrated and multicultural society. It is generally seen that both foreigner and English people identify with Britain, nevertheless sharing it as a home (Heath, 2012). The only concern is the fear of integration growing along with racial basis and in essence, further alienating these already marginalized minority groups from Britain's fast pace. Approximately 8% of the total Britain population belongs to a minority ethnic group and immigrants. According to the recent statistics, the religious makeup of Britain constitutes 71.6% Christianity, 2.7% Islam, 1.5% Hinduism, 0.6% Sikhism, 0.5% Judaism and 0.3% Buddhism. Research has shown that Britain is one of the most racially tolerant nations in the world (Heath, 2012). The country has been molded through a series of historical times when racial discrimination, inequality, and injustice against various minority groups was predominant.

It would take a lot of efforts for British society to achieve a perfect multicultural identity. One critical aspect that could influence the integrity of multiculturism in the country the ability of the people to foster Cultural competence. Cultural competence refers to the ability of an individual to recognize and identify fundamental socio-relational aspect, founded on aboriginal or native cultural principles, beliefs, values, and practices, which principally influence challenges on their sociability prospects and the contexts through which self-esteem and self-image are identified and build. As Javidan and Walker (2014) postulate, cultural competence constitutes one's capacity to develop empathy effectively and more importantly, fostering profound integrity and knowledge critical for effective social connectivity. The ability of a different member of the British community to view the diversity and the different ways of life that come with it from the perspective of the 'other member' is critically limited.

Increasing or promoting cultural competence in Britain has been identified as one of the most prominent strategies that would significantly enhance multiculturalism efficacy. In their research, Javidan and Walker (2012, P. 36) identify that the idea of enhancing cultural competence would influence the people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to identify and acknowledge the construct that the 'other member' may perceive a common social setting through distinctly unique cultural lenses. Encouraging people to foster an open mindset, integrity and self-knowledge towards the aspect of perceptual expectation presents one of the most profound elements or principle of enhancing cross-cultural competences, and hence Multiculturalism in Britain. According to Kim (2011), in a culturally diverse society, perception is a critically important element than reality. Perception can be identified as the manner through which things or actions derive meaning and rationale, specifically from a particular point of view. As such, fostering an integral mindset towards perceptual expectation fuels, individual intellectual capacity to recognize and comprehend the essence of acceptance of varied conceptual precepts, in the line of promoting cross-cultural relations.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, the issue of racial equality channels us to the concerns and questions of Multiculturalism, national identity, and rethinking secularism in Britain. Multiculturalism in this country continues to be caricatured, and now it is becoming a threat to social unity and subversive of western civilization. It is thus rationally justified to postulate that solving this problem would require critical reflection of different strategies. Such include formulating and implementing strategies and policies which upgrade ethnic and cultural nonage groups. Similarly, new policies to ensure that the minority ethnic and cultural groups are qualified for by right and law to equal access to resources and opportunities should be formulated.

References

Heath, A., 2012. Has Multiculturalism failed in the UK? Not really. The Guardian, 10.doi/076/764

Javidan, M. and Walker, J.L., 2012. A whole new global mindset for leadership. People and Strategy, 35(2), p.36.doi/678-8532

Kim, N.K., 2011. Deliberative Multiculturalism in Britain: A Response to Devolution, European Integration, and Multicultural Challenges. Peter Lang.doi/567/678