Does Multiculturalism Inhibit Intercultural Dialogue? Evidence from the Antipodes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21153/jcgs2018vol2no1art1057Keywords:
multiculturalism, intercultural dialogue, Australia, citizenship test, free speech, racial hatred provisionsAbstract
In recent years, an international debate has erupted over whether and how interculturalism differs from multiculturalism as a response to cultural diversity. An influential argument in this debate is that multiculturalism itself militates against intercultural dialogue. This article scrutinises this argument and challenge its applicability in the Australian context. I examine two case studies of fraught intercultural dialogue: the 2006 clash between the Howard government and the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria over the proposed introduction of a citizenship test; and the Abbott government’s proposed reform of the anti-vilification provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) during 2013–14. The cases suggest that far from undermining intercultural dialogue, respecting the terms of Australian multiculturalism would help to make it possible. Moreover, the cases suggest that if pursued genuinely, intercultural dialogue could contribute improved policy outcomes.1
1This article is a revised version of Geoffrey Brahm Levey (2017) ‘Intercultural dialogue under a multiculturalism regime: pitfalls and possibilities in Australia’ in Fethi Mansouri (ed) Interculturalism at the crossroads: comparative perspectives on concepts, policies and practice, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, France, pp. 103-25
References
ACPEA– see Australian Council on Population and Ethnic Affairs.
Anderson, S. 2015. ‘More applicants failing Australia’s citizenship test following increase of passing mark’, ABC News, 11 November.
Aston, H. 2014a. ‘Few back change to race laws’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 August.
Aston, H. 2014b. ‘Tony Abbott dumps controversial changes to 18C racial discrimination laws’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 August.
Australian Council on Population and Ethnic Affairs. 1982. Multiculturalism for all Australians: our developing nationhood, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Australian Jewish News. 2008. ‘Jews silenced at Canberra talkfest’, 6 March.
Bachrach, P & Baratz, MS. 1970. Power and poverty: theory and practice, New York: Oxford University Press.
Bader, V. 2007. Secularism or democracy? associational governance of religious diversity, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Barrett, M (ed.). 2013. Interculturalism and multiculturalism: similarities and differences, Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
Brandis, G. 2014. Exposure draft: freedom of speech (repeal of S.18C) Bill 2014, Canberra: Attorney–General’s Department.
Betts, K. 2002. ‘Democracy and dual citizenship’, People and Place, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 57–70.
Betts, K & Birrell, B. 2007. ‘Making Australian citizenship mean more’, People and Place, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 45–61.
Bouchard, G. 2011. ‘What is interculturalism?’, McGill Law Journal, vol. 56, no. 2 pp. 435–468.
Butterly, N. 2008. ‘Migrants flunk citizenship test’, The Age, 2 January.
Cantle, T. 2012. Interculturalism: the new era of cohesion and diversity, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Carens, J. 2000. Culture, citizenship, and community: a contextual exploration of justice as evenhandedness. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Commonwealth of Australia. 1999. A new agenda for multicultural Australia, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Commonwealth of Australia.2003. Multicultural Australia: united in diversity, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Commonwealth of Australia. 2006. ‘Australian citizenship: much more than a ceremony’, Consideration of the merits of introducing a formal citizenship test, Discussion Paper, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Council of Europe. 2008. ‘Intercultural dialogue: living together as equals in dignity’, White Paper, Committee of Ministers, Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship. 2011. The people of Australia: Australia’s multicultural policy, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. 2002. Muslim Community Reference Group, advisory group, 18 September, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service..
Department of Social Services. 2017. Multicultural Australia: united, strong, successful, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
DIAC–see Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
DIMA–see Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
DSS– see Department of Social Services.
Eatock v Bolt [2011] FCA 1103 (28 September 2011).
ECCV–see Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria. 2006a. ‘Australian citizenship: much more than a ceremony’ ECCV Submission to the Discussion Paper, 15 November.
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria. 2006b. ‘ECCV Rejects Robb’s Comments’, Media Release, 27 November.
Fraser, N. 2002. ‘Recognition without ethics’, in S Lash & M Featherstone (eds), Recognition and difference: politics, identity, multiculture, London: Sage Publications, pp. 21–42.
Grattan, M. 2017. ‘Section 18C change appears doomed in Senate’, The Conversation, 21 March.
Hartwich, OM. 2011. Selection, migration and integration: why multiculturalism works in Australia (and fails in Europe), St Leonards: Centre for Independent Studies.
Hunter, F. 2017. ‘Free speech inquiry stops short of recommending major changes to 18C race hate laws’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 February.
Kelly, P. 1997. ‘The curse of the m-word’, The Weekend Australian, 30–31 August.
Kuhn, R. 2009. ‘Xenophobic racism and class during the Howard years’, Marxist Interventions, no. 1, pp. 53–82.
Kymlicka, W. 2012. ‘Comment on Meer and Modood’, Journal of Intercultural Studies, vol. 33, pp. 211–16.
Levey, GB. 2008. ‘Multiculturalism and Australian national identity’. In Political theory and Australian multiculturalism, ed. Geoffrey Brahm Levey, pp. 254–76. New York: Berghahn Books.
Levey, GB. 2012. ‘Interculturalism vs. multiculturalism: a distinction without a difference?’, Journal of Intercultural Studies, vol. 33, pp. 217–24.
Levey, GB. 2014. ‘Liberal nationalism and the Australian citizenship tests’, Citizenship Studies, vol. 18, pp. 175–89.
Levey, GB. 2016. ‘Diversity, duality and time’, in N Meer, T Modood & R Zapata-Barrero, Multiculturalism and interculturalism: debating the dividing lines, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Lewis, R. 2016. ‘Support grows for Cory Bernardi’s change to section 18C’, The Australian, 30 August.
Lukes, S. 1974. Power: a radical view, New York: Macmillan.
Malone, U. 2017. ‘Section 18C: ethnic groups believe racial discrimination law changes send wrong message’, ABC News,21 March.
Meer, N & Modood, T. 2012. ‘How does interculturalism contrast with multiculturalism?’, Journal of Intercultural Studies, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 175–196.
Meer, N, Modood, T & Zappata-Barrero, R (eds.). 2016. Multiculturalism and interculturalism: debating the dividing lines, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Office of Multicultural Affairs. 1989. National agenda for a multicultural Australia, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
OMA–see Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Parekh, B. 1996. ‘Minority practices and principles of toleration’, International Migration Review, vol. 30, pp. 251–84.
Parekh, B. 2000. Rethinking multiculturalism. London: Macmillan.
Race Discrimination Commissioner. 1995. The racial discrimination act: a review, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Race Discrimination Commissioner. 1996. The racial discrimination act: a review. community consultation guide, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Robb, A. 2006a. ‘The importance of a shared national identity’, Plenary address to the transformations conference, Canberra: Australian National University, 27 November.
Robb, A. 2006b. ‘In support of a formal citizenship test’, Address to the Jewish National Fund, Melbourne: Mercantile Rowing Club, 25 October.
Shaw, M. 2004. ‘Howard puts ATSIC to death’, The Age, 16 April.
Soutphommasane, T. 2014. ‘Tim Soutphommasane and Tim Wilson debate racial discrimination backflip’, ABC Radio National Breakfast, 6 August.
Tate, J. 2009. ‘John Howard’s “Nation” and citizenship test: multiculturalism, citizenship, and identity’, Australian Journal of Politics and History, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 97–120.
Taylor, C. 2012. ‘Interculturalism or multiculturalism?’, Philosophy & Social Criticism, vol. 38, pp. 413–23.
van Vliet, P. 2006. ‘Diversity is a fact, not a doctrine’, The Age, 29 November.
Whitlam, Hon. EG. 1975. Launch of the office of the commissioner for community relations, Canberra.
Wieviorka, M. 2012. ‘Multiculturalism: a concept to be redefined and certainly not replaced by the extremely vague term of interculturalism’, Journal of Intercultural Studies, vol. 33, pp. 225–31.
Wilson, T. 2015. ‘Charlie Hebdo vs 18C: no contest’, The Australian, 19 January.
Wright, J. 2013. ‘George Brandis to repeal “Bolt laws” on racial discrimination’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November.
Young, IM. 1990. Justice and the politics of difference, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Zapata-Barrero, R (ed.). 2015b. Interculturalism in cities: concept, policy and implementation, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
