Multiculturalism in London
Advantages and disadvantages of the multiculturalism in big cities, particularly in London
Ethnic and racial diversity is not a new phenomenon in the world history: in the Middle East and the Mediterranean World, a multiplicity of cultures coexisted in rural areas as well as in cities since Antiquity. Nowadays multiculturalism has become an official policy in several European countries since the 1970s, for reasons that varied from country to country, including the fact that many of the great cities of the Western world are increasingly made of different cultures.
In less than three decades, “multiculturalism” has become a word immediately recognised by politicians, social commentators, academics and the general public. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, multiculturalism can be defined as “the existence of several cultures within a society.” In the political context, this term has a lot of meanings, starting with the promotion of equal respect for different cultures in society, to developing of the conservation of cultural diversity in politics, in which people of different nationalities and religious groups are considered by the authorities as defined in the group they belong to.
As noted already that multiculturalism has been an official policy in many Western English-speaking countries. Additionally, it should be mentioned that the spread of multiculturalism started in Canada in 1971, followed by Australia. Finally, it was quickly adopted as official the policy by most member-states of the European Union. The United Kingdom and particularly London is a prime example of the developed multiculturalism. Factually, London is home to more than half of the English population of Black Caribbean, Black Africans and Black other ethnic groups as well as 49 per cent of Bangladeshis. However, multiculturalism caused by immigration has become a hot topic in the UK. It is one of the most emotive and sensitive subjects in British politics. Several
Ethnic and racial diversity is not a new phenomenon in the world history: in the Middle East and the Mediterranean World, a multiplicity of cultures coexisted in rural areas as well as in cities since Antiquity. Nowadays multiculturalism has become an official policy in several European countries since the 1970s, for reasons that varied from country to country, including the fact that many of the great cities of the Western world are increasingly made of different cultures.
In less than three decades, “multiculturalism” has become a word immediately recognised by politicians, social commentators, academics and the general public. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, multiculturalism can be defined as “the existence of several cultures within a society.” In the political context, this term has a lot of meanings, starting with the promotion of equal respect for different cultures in society, to developing of the conservation of cultural diversity in politics, in which people of different nationalities and religious groups are considered by the authorities as defined in the group they belong to.
As noted already that multiculturalism has been an official policy in many Western English-speaking countries. Additionally, it should be mentioned that the spread of multiculturalism started in Canada in 1971, followed by Australia. Finally, it was quickly adopted as official the policy by most member-states of the European Union. The United Kingdom and particularly London is a prime example of the developed multiculturalism. Factually, London is home to more than half of the English population of Black Caribbean, Black Africans and Black other ethnic groups as well as 49 per cent of Bangladeshis. However, multiculturalism caused by immigration has become a hot topic in the UK. It is one of the most emotive and sensitive subjects in British politics. Several
Bibliography: of Multiculturalism in Social Alternatives”, University of Queensland, 1983 [ 17 ]. Blainey, G. “All For Australia” 1984 [ 18 ]. Speech by UK’s prime minister David Cameron [ 19 ]. Putnam Robert, "Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first century", Scandinavian Political Studies 30 (2); 06.2007 [ 20 ]. Kristine Brown and Susan Hood, “Academic Encounters: Life in society”, Cambridge University Press, 2002 [ 21 ]. “Multiculturalism: What does it mean?” Magazine 07.02.2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/