{"id":1702,"date":"2013-05-06T16:41:47","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T14:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euroalter.local\/news\/multiculturalism-vs-assimilation\/"},"modified":"2013-05-06T16:41:47","modified_gmt":"2013-05-06T14:41:47","slug":"multiculturalism-vs-assimilation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euroalter.com\/fr\/multiculturalism-vs-assimilation\/","title":{"rendered":"MULTICULTURALISM vs. ASSIMILATION"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nPicture from le Blog de Caroline Fourest.<\/span>It\u2019s all about a \u201cpositive acceptance not a negative tolerance<\/em>.\u201d Ruth Lea, British economist.<\/p>\n

The issue of multiculturalism has recently been put under spotlights by David Cameron\u2019s first speech as Prime Minister on radicalisation and the causes of terrorism, where he stated that \u201cmulticulturalism failed\u201d. French and German leaders Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel soon proclaimed that they shared this position.<\/p>\n

Before asking ourselves if multiculturalism in Europe has been a failure we should try to understand how multiculturalism is defined. Generally multiculturalism is perceived as a \u201cchoice\u201d of society in which every culture has the right to exist and there is no real link, no real interaction between communities. The other way to define multiculturalism is the \u201cchoice\u201d of society to recognize all cultures, which peacefully coexist, but with at the same time a common identity. It is what is called \u201cunity in diversity\u201d. The absence of interconnectivity which characterises the first interpretation of multiculturalism is probably the factor which leads to the failure of this system.<\/p>\n

Historically, the British model of multiculturalism has been opposed to the French model of assimilation. In the French model, unity is more important than diversity. In fact, principles such has the unit\u00e9 et indivisibilit\u00e9 du peuple fran\u00e7ais<\/em> (unity and indivisibility of the French people), la\u00efcit\u00e9 de l\u2019Etat<\/em> (secularity of the State) or identit\u00e9 nationale<\/em> (national identity) are fundamental basis of French democracy.<\/p>\n

The definition of \u201cEuropean\u201d as well as British, Spanish or German has changed throughout the years and is in constant evolution. European countries have to find a model which suits their tradition but at the same time encourages the integration of people from minorities, which are established in Europe. They need to feel and be part of a common European path without forgetting their roots.<\/p>\n

We should not forget that people from minority backgrounds have to make constant efforts in order to learn the language and the habits of the country where they live in, while often encountering social exclusion and discrimination in many areas of public life. The perfect model would maybe be the one in which minorities are perfectly integrated in Europe but at the same time see that value is given to their culture.<\/p>\n

Multiculturalism in Britain is not recent, and has successfully been practiced for decades. So is multiculturalism the main problem? Today, when talking about this issue, public opinion tends to refer almost exclusively to the Muslim community ignoring the other minorities. The fear of \u201cMuslim invasion\u201d fed by some right wing extremist is probably causing this dangerous amalgam.<\/p>\n

European Alternatives is trying to analyse this issue by fostering debate on these subjects:\n<\/p><\/div>\n