Maurizio Ambrosini , università di Milano,

1. Integration versus Multiculturalism: An outdated dichotomy Maurizio Ambrosini, università di Milano,

2. Failure of multiculturalism? • In Europe national governments are taking the distance from a multicultural discourse, coming back to a more “assimilationist” approach • This trend corresponds to the prevailing attitudes in the public opinion and to the growing of the topic in the political agenda

3. The advent of multiculturalism • Permanent settlement of immigrant populations in Europe • Movements for civil rights and for the recognition of minorities • Protest against the traditional assimilationist approach • From demand for equality to identity pride, and the inversion of the stigma (black is beautiful) • Islam as the main battlefield

4. Multiculturalism: a map of meanings • Analytical dimension (the multiethnic society as a fact to understand) and normative dimension (demand for cultural rights) • Moderate and more radical positions • Multiculturalism as a strategy of inclusion and as a strategy of differentiation

5. Crisis of multiculturalism? • Multiculturalist discourses have taken a U turn: after a peak of consensus in the ‘80-’90s, they are now under attack • Nowadays, many governments are again emphasizing the assimilation in the receiving society

6. The criticisms of multiculturalism • It fosters “parallel lives”, separated communities, radical stances • It legitimizes the oppression of women, young people, dissenters • It treats “cultures” as solid and homogeneous entities; actually, they don’t exist in such a way

7. Neo-assimilationism • Assimilation: it is the policy to make immigrants “similar” to the native population, and even to force them to behave as native citizens • New emphasis on learning the national language and on its evaluation through examinations • Language as test of political loyalty

8. Actual policies • They have experienced a less dramatic change • The multiculturalist rhetoric produced modest practical interventions, that did not deeply affect the structural dimension (inequalities, discrimination) • The backlash against multiculturalism , as the emphasis on secularism, did not prevent the development of relationships with representatives of Islam in every country

9. The practical and local dimension • Policies depicted as multiculturalist do not differ very much, in practice, from serious policies of integration • The national experiences are not contrasting, as it is commonly believed (France vs. UK) • Now, the change of discourse has limited practical effects • Local policies differ from national (declared) policies (e.g. the case of Islam in France)

10. The issue of “diversity” • While the fortune of multiculturalism is declining, many topics related to it are now reframed under the label of “diversity” • Diversity is more widely accepted • It connects ethnic diversity with other diversities: sexual, cultural, linguistic

11. Integration • It could be defined as the process of becoming an accepted component of the society • It does not mean “assimilation” • It implies a process of mutual adaptation • It encompasses structural and cultural elements (not only “interaction”) • It gives responsibilities to both parties: immigrants and receiving society (not only “inclusion”) • It occurs mainly at local level

12. Which future for multiculturalism • We need another discourse, as in the case of social cohesion: probably the idea of diversity could help • Many multiculturalist stances can be maintained with liberal arguments: freedom of wisdom, freedom of association, citizenship (and double citizenship), struggle against discrimination • The topic of cultural rights has to be founded in forms which should be compatible with individual rights • The public role of religions, as sites where norms and values are constructed, has to be reconsidered