1st Edition

The Multicultural Dilemma Migration, Ethnic Politics, and State Intermediation

Edited By Michelle Williams Copyright 2013
    288 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    284 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This work seeks to explore the contemporary challenge of government in multicultural societies, drawing together a wide range of contributors to examine how ethnic difference could better understood and mediated by modern nation states.

    Divided into three sections, the book centres round the notion that changing patterns of migration bring escalating obstacles to integration or assimilation. In the first section, contributors focus on the theory that immigrants are the actors that catalyze contemporary multicultural dilemmas within states, with a particular focus on diaspora and how a diaspora community may differ in some ways from other kinds of immigrant community. Section two identifies key factors in shaping ethnic identity before moving on to examine the state of the debate over whether identity can be changed or manipulated. The contributors to this section provide valuable insights into the catalysts and causes of ethnic division and tension, by showing factors in the development of ethnic identity. In the third section, the focus turns to strategies for mediating multicultural challenges and managing internal diversity in multicultural society, offering structural and institutional solutions with evidence of application in specific cases and country contexts.

    Offering a comprehensive overview of this pressing issue and drawing on a wide range of case studies, this work will be of interest to students and scholars of migration, political sociology & race and ethnic studies.

    Preface: Multuculturalism and Ethnic Politics through the work of William Safran  1. Introduction: THe Multicultural Dilemma Michelle Hale Williams  Section 1: Understanding Key Actors in the Growth of Multicultural Societies: Conceptualizing Immigrants and Diaspora  2. The Limitations of Grand Migration Theory: Embedding Experiences of Immigration and Immigrant Incorporation within their Appropriate National, Regional and Local Settings Anthony Messina  3. Globalization, Diaspora and Transnationalism: Challenges and Opportunities for the Indian Diaspora Ajaya Sahoo  Section 2: Factors in Ethnic Identity and Nationalism: Considering the Role of Language, Religion, Citizenship Criteria, Education, and Resource Inequality  4. Conceptualizing the Nation: Myths, Imagined Communities or Multi Ethnic Realities? The Cases of Israel, France, and the United States Nancy Kwang Johnson  5. Do Religion and Language as Identity Markers Promote Ethnocentrism and Xenophobia? A Theoretical Exploration Ray Taras  6. Islamic Identity, Yes, Islamist Parties, No: The Mainstreaming of Political Islam and its Challenge for Islamist Parties Julie Chernov Hwang  7. The Importance of Citizenship Criteria: Jewishness between Ethnicity, Religion and Nationalism during the First World War from the Point of View of André Suarès Jean Tournon  8. Learning How to Remember: Education and Collective Memory Formation as a Tool in Reconciliation Philip Barker and Alicia Houser  9. Institutions to Bridge Troubled Waters: Water-User Associations and Interests, Identities, Conflict and Cooperation Jenny R. Kehl  10. "Primordialism" and the Study of Nationalism John Coakley  Section 3: Mediating Multicultural Challenges: State and Institutional Responses  11. Consociationalism and Conflict Resolution Adrian Guelke  12. State and Stateless Nationalisms, Old and New Diversities, and Federal Governance Luis Moreno  13. Evaluating Party Politicization of Immigration Michelle Hale Williams  14. The Long Twilight of Jaconbinism: Evaluating the French Assimilationist Model Steve Majstorovic  15. Conclusion: Dealing with the Multicultural Dilemma Michelle Hale Williams

    Biography

    Michelle Hale Williams is Associate Professor of Political Science in the Department of Government, University of West Florida, USA.

    The number of edited volumes covering issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and migrant integration has grown rapidly. Often, they are rather loose collections that cover only a single country or region. This volume deals with ethnic politics, migration, national minorities, nationalism, and conflict resolution in both developed and developing countries. Drawing what in some cases are fresh connections between these knotty topics across a range of contexts, the contributors manage collectively to achieve greater analytical coherence and depth than is found in many more narrowly focused edited works. Several of the chapters are valuable in their own right, moreover, such as Anthony Messina’s thoughtful essay on how to study migrant incorporation in Europe.

    Patrick R. Ireland, Illinois Institute of Technology, USA

    A robust and serious assessment of the politics of ethnicity, language, religion, multiculturalism and common citizenship in managing the ‘dilemma’ between diversity and political unity. Required reading for scholars and policymakers.

    Willem Maas, York University, Canada