“多元文化”论争世纪回眸

Since the early 1970s,multiculturalism has been adopted as influential state policy by Canada,Australia and some other Western countries in succession.After giving a critical review concerning the manifest and latent functions of the multiculturalism,the author points out that the multiculturalism cannot be simply regarded as a positive and progressive policy that has been highly appreciated by quite a few Chinese scholars.It should be noted that one of the important implications of the policy is that the weak groups(immigrants are included)are able to enjoy their rights only because of the favor bestowed by the group in power.Therefore,on the one hand,multiculturalism does show an important advantage because it tends to promote all ethnic communities as equals;on the other hand,a deep racism cannot be ignored because the social consequence of the policy will absolutely institutionalize the separatism by stressing the “unchangeable racial identity”.