Presentation on:
John Rex (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
Julia Scheffler
European Studies
5th semester
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
Germany
John Rex
• Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 5th March 1925.
• Founding Professor of Sociology in the University of Warwick from 1970 to 1984. Professor
Emeritus from 1989 onwards.
• Director of the Social Science Research Council’s Research Unit on Ethnic Relations at Aston
University from 1984 to 1988.
• Associate Director of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Centre for Research in
Ethnic Relations 1988 to 1989.
• Visiting Professor in the University of Toronto 1973 to 1974 and in New York University
1995, in the University of Capetown 1996.
• Member of the UNESCO International Experts Committee on Racism and Race Prejudice
1967 and President of the International Sociological Association’s Research Committee on
Racial and Ethnic Minorities 1974 to 1982.
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His best known books are:
Key Problems of Sociological Theory (1964)
Race Relations in Sociological Theory (1970)
Race and Ethnicity (1986).
His most recent book is:
Ethnic Minorities in the Modern Nation
State:Working Paper in the Theory of MultiCulturalism and Political Integration (1996).
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“My biography tells much
of my academic career
and I do believe in the
idea of an objective
sociology. Nonetheless
my life has been one of
continuous political
engagement.”
(http://www.johnrex.com/main/aboutme.php)
Source: http://www.john-rex.com
Structure of the Text
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Value orientations in Social Science
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Plural and Multicultural Societies
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The Institutions of the Public Domain
The Boundaries of the Public Domain
Education and the Public and Private Domains
The Structures of the Private Domain
Conflict and Compromise in the Multicultural Society
Summary: The Essentials of a Multicultural Society
Main Quotation:
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“Thus multiculturalism in the modern
world involves on the one hand the
acceptance of a single culture and a single
set of individual rights governing the
public domain and a variety of folk
cultures in the private domestic and
communal domains.” (p. 210)
Argumentation
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Begins with sociology
Rex tries to develop an ideal of a multicultural
society
Main feature: unitary society in public domain
but diversity in private/communal matters (p.
208)
Explains what is meant by public domain:
law, politics and economy
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The Boundaries of Public Domain are:
family, morality and religion
The special role of Education:
3 functions:
-selecting individuals
-transmitting of important skills
-transmitting of moral values -->
this conflicts with private domain
The clash of Values: society which wants equality of opportunity and
toleration of cultural diversity has to deal with this tension!
His practical proposals for Britain:
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Schools should be agent of public domain
 concerned with selection, transmission of skills
and of civic morality
community should control education concerning
language, religion and family affairs – get funded
by state!!
Alternatively: education out of public domain- intracommunal matter
Social welfare/social work: training of already sensitive
minority people in professional standards (give it to
community!) p. 216
Structure of Private Domain
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includes kinship, a network of associations
and a system of religious organization and
belief
this structure provides home and a source
of identity for individuals
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Conflict and Compromise in the
multicultural Society
minority structures may not fit into status quo but are
not dangerous!
British culture not unitary – civic culture includes notion
of conflict!
 multicultural society must be anti-racist society
because only belief system which has to become
disqualified has to be the inequality of opportunity !
Own experiences:
Unsuccessful policy of Germany
 No dialogue, ghettoisation
 Murders within family because of „family
honor“
 Is it good to remain private sphere
untouched?
 Is it not necessary that also the members
of ethnic minorities can decide freely?
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Questions?
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”Indeed it can be said that the whole system [of
arranged marriages] gives the bride more rights
than does the notion of marriage based upon
random selection and romantic love” (p. 216f).
Where is the border between private and public?
How to teach majority in minority rights?
Are state-independent schools desirable?
Textual Connection
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Kenan Malik: “the idea of a plural or multicultural
society is (...) a deeply ambiguous one.” (p. 170)
Concept of Multiculturalism: “overestimates the
homogeneity and autonomy of the various
ethnic groups and underestimates the degree to
which all groups are reciprocally implicated in
the creation of cultural forms within a common
framework (...).” (p.177)
Implications
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Rex developed a useful model in contrast to that
of pluralism
Politicians should always explain what they are
talking about
Special role of education!
But he is pessimistic about his model of living
peacefully and with same opportunity of equality
together.
What do you think???