Unity in Diversity?

Abstract

This article considers how well the existing sociological literature on immigrant integration and assimilation responds to public fears over multiculturalism. The current backlash against multiculturalism rests on both its perceived negative effects for immigrants' socioeconomic integration and its failure to encourage civic and political cohesion. I offer a brief review of multiculturalism as political theory and public policy, demonstrating that multiculturalism addresses questions of citizenship and political incorporation, not socioeconomic integration. We have growing evidence that multiculturalism does not hurt immigrant citizenship or political integration, and might facilitate such processes. We know much less about the relationship between multiculturalism and socioeconomic outcomes. I discuss how sociologists have developed useful models of immigrants' socioeconomic assimilation but have paid scant attention to civic or political outcomes. They also have not adequately addressed the relationship between socioeconomic and political integration. We can, nonetheless, extrapolate from existing scholarship, and I outline two models of political integration that seem to emerge from the sociology of U.S. immigration: one of individual-level political assimilation, another of group-based political incorporation. I conclude by offering a number of hypotheses about the importance of “groupedness” for politics and the relationship between political action, multiculturalism, and socioeconomic integration.

Societal context and the production of immigrant status-based health inequalities: A comparative study of the United States and Canada

“…The U.S. has been described as having a “laissez-faire” approach to civic citizenship in which ethnic and other groups may use their own resources to promote and maintain cultural expression and to assist newly arrived immigrants in the process of settling. However, public investment in these matters is largely absent (26, 27). In contrast, Canada has maintained, since 1971, an explicit policy of multiculturalism, in which the government and broader society responsible to “…actively recognize cultural diversity and make accommodations for the needs of cultural minorities…” (27).…”

“…However, public investment in these matters is largely absent (26, 27). In contrast, Canada has maintained, since 1971, an explicit policy of multiculturalism, in which the government and broader society responsible to “…actively recognize cultural diversity and make accommodations for the needs of cultural minorities…” (27). Moreover, specific government programs in Canada have provided financial support to new immigrants to help them in their settlement in Canadian cities (15, 27).…”

Postcolonial Bonds? Latin American Origins, Discrimination, and Sense of Belonging to Spain

“…The literature further shows that when it comes to migrants and subsequent generations, some adopt a hyphenated identity, combining both their home country's identity and that of the host country (Bloemraad, 2007). In some cases, however, these subsequent generations are constrained to integrate into specific segments of society that are available to them (Portes & Zhou, 1993).…”

Involuntary migration, inequality, and integration: National and subnational influences

“…Such policies can be linked more broadly to political culture, national identity, and models of diversity. For instance, Germany's 'ethnic' approach to citizenship may be contrasted with 'civic' citizenship in Canada, the UK, and the US, or Canada's active promotion of group rights with more hands-off approaches to multicultural citizenship elsewhere (Bloemraad 2007).…”