Citizenship, Multiculturalism and Socio-Political Inclusion: Lessons from Canada & the US

Irene BloemraadUniversity of California, Berkeley

Models of Civic Citizenship:

Models of Civic Citizenship:Multiculturalism -

Public RecognitionPublic acknowledgement of ethno-racial backgrounds

Models of Civic Citizenship:Multiculturalism -

Public RecognitionPublic acknowledgement of ethno-racial backgrounds

Public Support

Group claims-making and rights legitimated

Public monies directed to ethno-racial communities

Government Involvement as Problematic:

Objections -

Government Involvement as Problematic:

Objections -

Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity

Government Involvement as Problematic:

Objections -

Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity

Improper use of scarce resources, which are allocated on the wrong basis

Government Involvement as Problematic:

Objections -

Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity

Improper use of scarce resources, which are allocated on the wrong basis

Public dependence undermines civil society

Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship:

Models of Neutral Government -

Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship:

Models of Neutral Government -

French Republican traditionUniversalism through the individual citizen

Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship:

Models of Neutral Government -

French Republican traditionUniversalism through the individual citizen

American pluralist laissez-faire tradition

Equal opportunity and “market pluralism”

Problems with the Neutrality Approach:

Problems with the Neutrality Approach:

Ethnic and immigrant origins are a basis for political mobilization.

Salient to immigrantsPolitical learning through language & cultural ties

Problems with the Neutrality Approach:

Ethnic and immigrant origins are a basis for political mobilization.

Salient to immigrantsPolitical learning through language & cultural ties

Inequality in political resources inequity in political outcomes.

Facilitating political learning and mobilization

Benefits of Government Support:

Benefits of Government Support:

Material ResourcesMoney, technical assistance, policy access

Benefits of Government Support:

Material ResourcesMoney, technical assistance, policy access

Symbolic Impact

Rhetoric of diversity within equality very attractive to immigrants

Concrete support communicates legitimacy

Fostering Citizenship:American citizenship:

Life in the U.S. is flexible. If you go to work you will have money. You have all the necessities that you need. But if you don't work then you won't have any money. …I don't have much more to say because my whole life surrounds only these things. …I also have the freedom to travel. But if I commit a crime then I will go to jail.

Fostering Citizenship:American citizenship:

Life in the U.S. is flexible. If you go to work you will have money. You have all the necessities that you need. But if you don't work then you won't have any money. …I don't have much more to say because my whole life surrounds only these things. …I also have the freedom to travel. But if I commit a crime then I will go to jail.

Canadian citizenship:

It’s just the place that I feel home. [I like] the way the government runs things – I guess the great support, the multiculture stuff, the social assistance. We pay a lot of tax, that’s true. But the great concern of government, the help for the citizens themselves.

Citizenship in the United States and Canada,Adult Immigrants, 1900-2001

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100%

1900/01 1910/11 1920/21 1930/31 1940/41 1950/51 1960/61 1970/71 1980/81 1990/91 2000/01

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US Canada

Canadian figures for non-UK immigrants

U.S. figures for adult males

Index of Foreign-Born Representation in Federal Legislature, Canada and USA, 1900-2001

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0.1

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1.0

1900-01 1910-11 1920-21 1930-31 1940-41 1950-51 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01

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Canada USA

Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support foster inclusive, participatory citizenship

Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship

promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?

Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship

promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?

meaningful symbolism – how much government funding is needed to back official recognition?

Conclusions and Caveats:Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship

promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?

meaningful symbolism – how much government funding is needed to back official recognition?

beyond multiculturalism – other social policies