AQCI 2 Lecture: European Policies and Practice toward Ethnic Minorities Student: Kelsey Beckmeyer Lecturer: Antonin Mikes Date: October 19, 2015 Rex, John (2001) “The concept of a multicultural society” in Guibernau, Montserrat and Rex, John (eds): The Ethnicity Reader. Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Migration, Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, pp. 205-220 Kuper, Leo (2001) “Plural Societies” in Guibernau, Montserrat and Rex, John (eds): The Ethnicity Reader. Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Migration, Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, pp. 220-227 1. CENTRAL QUOTATION. “What I have tried to suggest is that a multicultural society must find a place for both diversity and equality of opportunity. Emphasis upon the first without allowing for the second could lead to segregationism, inequality and differential incorporation. Emphasis upon the second at the expense of the first could lead to an authoritarian form of assimilation. Both of these are at odds with the ideal of the multicultural society” (Rex, 218). Good quotation, straight to the point. 2. ARGUMENT. Rex argues for multiculturalism as a basis for an ideal society while warning against a plural model of society as “it would seem [to be] a model of racial domination” (Rex, 208). Equality and diversity of the populous develop respectively in the private and public domains, which establishes a balance of power between majority and minority cultures. He continuously admits to the idealist notions of a multicultural society and the challenges for current societies to achieve this ideal. Ultimately, he argues that his description of multiculturalism can only be possible once racism is eradicated. This is indeed the essence of what Rex is arguing, but maybe you should also mention the confusion around the concept of multiculturalism; that there are so many different interpretations. To me that also was an important point in the text. 3. QUESTION. Rex briefly mentions social work and social welfare in a multicultural society. This section left me wondering more and more about the best ways to address multicultural needs within social welfare. If the dominant group within society has developed and establish the norms with which we train social workers, would simply adding minority social workers really address the disparities in culture? For social workers to be truly effective in a multicultural society is cultural competency enough? Interesting question which Rex indeed doesn’t answer in his text. 4. EXPERIENTIAL CONNECTION. As Rex outlines a plural society, I immediately thought of the town where I attended high school, Walla Walla, WA in the US. The town is essentially a plural society where Whites and Latinos live mostly separate lives, only truly connecting in the educational sector. Even in school, however, there were distinct social castes and only a handful of interracial relationships. This plural society has morphed slightly over the last ten years due in large part to the efforts of Latino community members entering the public domain. Additionally, efforts in the school system to highlight diversity through clubs, presentations and bilingual teaching have begun to bridge the gap of inequality. I like your experiential connection, very interesting that you have experienced a plural society so close to you. 5. TEXTUAL CONNECTION. Rex admonishes a plural society, stating that it is the result of racial dominance such as that seen in the Jim Crow era in the United States and South African apartheid. Kuper further complicates this idea of plural societies as more than just racial difference. Plural societies do not just differ in terms of race, but also on a moral, cultural and political level. Both authors work together to present a holistic idea of how and why plural societies develop. You need to give a quotation of Kuper here. What do you mean by holistic idea of how and why plural societies develop? What is holistic about it? 6. IMPLICATIONS. The most prominent implications I see, stem from the question posed above. In order for a successful multicultural society to emerge, the training for social works, doctors, educators, etc., must change to include cultural cross-training. Rather than simply diversifying those within the profession, the profession itself must be redesigned to meet the needs of a diverse population. It is at the policy level that cultural literacy, not just competency, must be addressed. This is indeed a good implication that you have thought of but I personally haven’t really noticed Rex paying much attention to this aspect. So maybe not the most obvious implication but definitely an interesting one. Is this change in training already happening? Maybe you can give an example? AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM Student’s name: Kelsey Beckmeyer Essay title: AQCI 2 1) Is the chosen quotation central to the author’s argument? Name of assessor: Excel lent Go od x Xx xx Claire Slingsby Edona Begu Aver age X Xxx 3a) Is the question raised important/relevant/interesting? Comments Both sides of the argument are presented. Maybe mention that ‘multiculturalism’ is a very difficult and confusing concept. Not sure on clarity here. I think it was a clear question, but maybe you could say why you doubt cultural competency is enough? Xxx xx X Interesting that you have been living in a plural society yourself. 4) Is the experiential connection relevant/interesting? xx X x x 5a) Is the textual connection relevant/interesting? 5b) Has it been cited properly? Not accept able 20-10-2015 The quotation reflects the main argument. 2) Has the main argument been fully understood (including its ‘for’ and ‘against’ sides, if applicable)? 3b) Has this question not been fully answered in the text? Po or Date: X Am I making sense here? It feels a bit muddled. You are certainly making sense until you come to the holistic part, I didn’t exactly get why their ideas are holistic. I’m used to also give the year in the citation like this: (Rex, 2001, p. 206). But that’s just a different way of doing it I guess. You haven’t got a citation in the textual connection thought, you have to give one there. 5c) Has it been adequately explained how the present text's argument contrasts with, contradicts, confirms, clarifies, or elaborates the other text's argument or point? xx X Xxx 6) Have the implications been well understood, can they have a practical impact for policy making? 7) Expression/Presentation a) Are the style, grammar and general use of English adequate? b) Is the AQCI professionally presented? Essay grade: Further comments: Xxx Xxx Again, this section can also use some fine tuning. Interesting implication, maybe you can make it more concrete with an example?