Multiculturalism on the Mend?: The Political Left and Ethnic Minorities in Liberal Democracies

This book sets out to provide a clearer picture of the movement and directionality of polyethnic rights – or immigrant-centered multiculturalism, as it is more commonly known – following recent shifts to the left in government (i.e., victories of left-parties, inclusion of left-parties in coalition governments, increase in left parties’ presence in parliament, defeat of far-right parties and right-wing populists). In so doing, it aims to understand the near and longer-term prospects of multicultural policy, multicultural discourse, demographic multiculturalism, and laws and regulations related to the immigration process in the 21st century and in an increasingly complex ideological environment. The book comprises case studies of multicultural developments in eight countries – Sweden, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom – all of which have recently (2014-2024) experienced a shift to the left in national level politics, albeit in different ways and to varying degrees. In addition to understanding what has happened to multicultural policy and discourse in recent years, the book also sets out to identify the conditions under which multiculturalism is more or less likely to mend after a shift to the left in government. The book’s overall aim is to see whether there is a future for multiculturalism in an increasingly ideologically complex environment or whether the victories of the political right, the rise of populism, the resurgence of anti-immigrant racism, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changing nature of minority mobilization have irreversibly altered the course of multicultural affairs. Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction: Is Multiculturalism on the Mend? 1 Introduction 2 What Is Multiculturalism? 3 What Is a Shift to the Left? 4 Expected and Puzzling Outcomes 5 Possible Reasons for Puzzling Outcomes 6 Chapter Overview Bibliography Chapter 2: Swedish Multiculturalism in the Wake of the Post-2015 Restrictive Turn in Immigration Politics 1 Introduction 2 The Main Questions and the Structure of the Chapter 3 Multiculturalism According to Index Studies 4 Emergence of a Multicultural Immigrant Integration Policy 5 The Persistence of Swedish Immigrant Integration Policies 6 The Restrictive Turn on Immigration Politics and Changes in Party-Political Dynamics 7 What Impact do Recent Changes Have on Multiculturalism? 8 Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 3: Mending or Patching Over Inequality? The Substance of Multiculturalism under Canada’s Liberal Government Since 2015 1 Introduction 2 Context 3 Multiculturalism ‘Proper’ 4 Immigration Policy 5 Refugee Policy 6 Naturalization and Citizenship Policy 7 Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 4: Governing Diversity Through Crisis: Multicultural Politics under Aotearoa New Zealand’s Sixth Labour Government 1 Introduction 2 Context and Expectations of Multiculturalism Policy in Aotearoa 3 Labour in Power: Context and Goals 4 Advancing ‘Ethnic’ Policy Through Crisis 5 Shaping Multicultural Governance: Indigenous Self-determination and the Pacific Agenda 6 Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 5: Multiculturalism and the Left in Switzerland: Tensions and Perspectives 1 Introduction 2 The State of Swiss Multiculturalism and Swiss Diversity 3 The Left’s Stance on Multiculturalism and the Factors that Restrict Its Ability to Act 4 Conclusion: A Future for Swiss Multiculturalism? Bibliography Chapter 6: Multiculturalism Discourse and Policy: The Convergence of Two Path-Dependent Trajectories in Germany 1 Introduction 2 Assessing Multiculturalism in Germany 3 Demographic Multiculturalism in Germany 4 Multiculturalism as Political Discourse at the National Level 5 The Evolution of Multicultural Policy and Practices at the Local Level The Guest-Worker Era (1955–1973) The Post-Guest-Worker Era (Mid-1970s–2005) The Era of Comprehensive Immigration and Integration Policies (2006–Present) 6 Discussion and Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 7: Multiculturalism, American-Style: The Politics of Race, Culture, and Diversity 1 Introduction 2 The Civil Rights Era and the Minority Rights Revolution (1950s–1960s) 3 Racial Resentment, Colorblind Racism, and the Rise of ‘Diversity’ (1970s–1990s) 4 Diversity Discourse and Policy in the Twenty-First Century (2000s–2010s) 5 Multiculturalism and Diversity in the Current Moment 6 Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 8: Multiculturalism and the Political Left in Australia: An Exceptional Case? 1 Introduction 2 Bipartisan Formative Period: 1973–1996 3 Equivocation and Withdrawal: 1996–2010 4 Left and Right Divergence: 2010–Present 5 The Australian Case and Broader Questions Bibliography Chapter 9: Multicultural Continuity in the Absence of Deep Diversity in the United Kingdom 1 Introduction 2 A Shift to the Right and Consecutive Conservative Governments: 2010–2024 3 Tracing the Movement and Directionality of Immigrant and National Minority Multiculturalism Policies 4 An Emerging Intersection Between Multiculturalism and Britishness? 5 Assessing Commitments to Deep Diversity and Minority Nation Institutional Capacity 6 Discussion and Conclusion: A Path-Dependent Politics of Diversity? Bibliography Chapter 10: Concluding Remarks 1 Introduction 2 (Somewhat) Expected Outcomes 3 (Somewhat) Puzzling Outcomes 4 Why Does Multiculturalism Sometimes Fail to ‘Mend’ Following a Shift to the Left in Government? 5 Why Does Multiculturalism Sometimes Succeed Following a Shift to the Left in Government? 6 What Kind of Multicultural Outcomes Can We Expect in Future Shifts to the Left in Government to Produce? Bibliography Index