AQCI 2
Lecture: European Policies and Practice toward Ethnic Minorities
Lecturer: Antonin Mikes
Student: Izabela A. Kulesza
Date: October 20, 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. 205220
1. CENTRAL QUOTATION.
The private and communal world being separate from the market place, in the example of the plural
society in Indonesia, raises the question of “wether a multicultural society will encourage tight-knit
communal morality within groups or a world of total exploitation between groups” (Rex, 2001, 208).
2. ARGUMENT.
According to Rex, there are great differences to be considered between plural and multicultural societies.
While the author is highly critical of the former, he strongly advocates for the latter. Rex calls the plural
society model, one of “racial domination”. He attributes this conclusion to the need of a single entity to
oversee the otherwise very separated and closed groups. Multiculturalism, on the other hand, is much
more standardized in terms of social norms but provides freedom of expression in the domestic realm.
The distinctions between roles of private and public sectors are significant here.
3. QUESTION.
How does the free market economy impact the development of plural and multicultural societies?
4. EXPERIENTIAL CONNECTION.
The importance of discussing race, ethnicity and their roles in today’s world is not to be underestimated,
however, my experiential connections lead me to focus on socio-economic factors that shape these
paradigms. Capitalism is the driving force behind all public and one can argue, many private interactions.
My work as a secondary school teacher in a low-income, English-language learning district in Oakland,
CA, provides a simple example. Despite efforts on a national, state and local level to foster a culturally
inclusive environment in schools; at the end of the day, students with the latest generation iphones
enjoyed their social experiences much more than ones without such perks. Furthermore, theft related
conflicts increased and the exchange of stolen goods became prevalent at one point in time. The
presence of gangs was another serious threat that I argue is linked to lack of opportunity, social inequality
and power-seeking from economically disadvantaged individuals.
5. TEXTUAL CONNECTION.
Leo Kuper mentions Furnivall’s conflict-model in his writing on Plural Societies. He points out plural
societies where people live in the same proximity but do not combine . “As individuals they meet, but only
in the market place” (Kuper, 2001, 222). In plural societies, as described by Rex and Kuper, there are
more opportunities for systemic breakdowns when exchange of goods and services takes place.
Multicultural societies, with their central set of norms, provide more opportunity for regulation of these
transactions.
6. IMPLICATIONS.
If we accept multiculturalism as the more favorable of the two options presented in this week’s readings,
and apply my chosen question of free market economics then: what type of policy will prepare a diverse
demographic to succeed economically in the public domain? Backwards planning from this ideal outcome
can provide insight into policy around education, healthcare, and all of the culturally considerate topics we
discuss in this class.
The last implication that circles back to my original concern of capitalist competition has to do with special
interest groups. Many of these policies can be influenced by powerful entities who seek to protect and
maximize their profits. Lobbyists in the U.S., for example, are notorious for bribing government officials
and policy-makers. This is yet another example of a threat the ruthlessly competitive capitalist system
places on the development of a healthy, multicultural society.
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s
name:
Izabela A. Kulesza
Essay title:
AQCI 2
Name of
assessor:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the
author’s argument?
Go
od
Lena Apfel
Aver
age
Po
or
Date:
Not
accept
able
20/10/15
Comments
x
I think this is very short. Maybe
state the differences between
public and private domain and
what the leading principle in
multicultural societies is: equality
of respect, and trying to create
equality of opportunity.
x
2) Has the main argument been fully
understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
You could contrast this with the
principles of pluralism
It would be better to phrase the
question differently… do you
mean the development of either
one of these?
x
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully
answered in the text?
x
x
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
x
5a) Is the textual connection
relevant/interesting?
I do not see the connection to the
text, as it does not focus on
economic disadvantages, but on
the structure of an multicultural
state. Are these problems related
to minority cultures or integration?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
Add the second text also to your
sources! 
x
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?
x
x
6) Have the implications been well
understood, can they have a practical
impact for policy making?
You didn’t include any
suggestions for practical policy
making
I am also confused as stated in
the text how this is connected to
multicultural societies and not just
capitalism?
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general
use of English adequate?
x
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
x