Several Western political leaders have diagnosed the failure of multiculturalism. But as Thomas Sealy, Varun Uberoi and Nasar Meer argue, the UK offers a case study for multiculturalism’s resilience, and the work of Tariq Modood provides a blueprint for applying the principles of multiculturalism to public policy.

Enjoying this post? Then sign up to our newsletter and receive a weekly roundup of all our articles.

Since the turn of the millennium, multiculturalism has faced significant criticism, with detractors blaming multiculturalism for macro social issues, including community segregation, a lack of shared identity, and even extremism. At one time, the political leaders of the three largest (by population) members of the European Union, David Cameron, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, proclaimed multiculturalism a failure.

Having heard its death knell rung by politicians and scholars alike, and over some two decades, it may seem odd to be arguing that multiculturalism is alive and well in prevailing ideas, politics, and practice.

Even some scholars supportive of cultural diversity have referred to multiculturalism as a “zombie category“, something joined more recently by the so-called “culture wars“, and claims that multiculturalism has failed to engage sufficiently with the concerns of majority populations.

Rumours of multiculturalism’s death have been greatly exaggerated

Having heard its death knell rung by politicians and scholars alike, and over some two decades, it may seem odd to be arguing that multiculturalism is alive and well in prevailing ideas, politics, and practice. As we document in our new book on the resilience of multiculturalism, however, it appears that a funny thing always happens on the way to the funeral. We show that multiculturalism not only continues to influence how we think about national identity, the role of cultural groups in society, and what it means to be a citizen, but that it has remained a prominent theme in recent political movements and public debates, from the global Black Lives Matter protests to Australia’s recent referendum on Indigenous recognition.

In Britian, where political leaders have often criticized multiculturalism, it remains a significant feature of the policy landscape, with social trust, recognition of discrimination, and valuing of diversity at an all-time high.

While the rhetoric around multiculturalism has often been negative, policy developments tell a different story. For instance, a study of multicultural policies in 21 countries between 1980 and 2020 revealed that most countries still maintain, and even enhance, multicultural policies. Canada and Australia, for example, have celebrated over fifty years of official multiculturalism, demonstrating that the approach is far from obsolete. In India, despite political rhetoric promoting a majoritarian turn, policies for minority inclusion continue to play an important role. In Britian, where political leaders have often criticized multiculturalism, it remains a significant feature of the policy landscape, with social trust, recognition of discrimination, and valuing of diversity at an all-time high.

The UK as proof of multiculturalism’s resilience

Indeed, Britain offers a particularly illustrative example of multiculturalism’s resilience. At the turn of the millennium, the election of a Labour government marked a renewed commitment to celebrating racial diversity. The Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain (CMEB), led by political philosopher Bhikhu Parekh, produced a comprehensive report that aimed to rethink British identity to better reflect its diverse population. The report recommended that the government formally recognize Britain as a multicultural society, a move designed to address the inequalities resulting from postcolonial migration.

This commitment to multiculturalism has continued to endure, even as political rhetoric has at times turned against it. Despite repeated declarations of its failure, multiculturalism has maintained its relevance in Britain, where it remains a crucial part of the political and cultural landscape. In contemporary debates, for example, issues of racial and ethnic justice have risen to the forefront, underscoring the ongoing importance of multiculturalism. Notably, political critiques have done little to dismantle multicultural policies or public support for diversity.

So, how do we account for this enduring resilience of multiculturalism, both in the UK and globally?

One good way this can be explored is through the work of one of the most influential proponents of multiculturalism Tariq Modood.

A champion of multiculturalism

Modood’s work has been instrumental in demonstrating how political multiculturalism is still alive, continuing to develop, and engaging with contemporary challenges such as nationalism, racism, and integration.

As an active commissioner on the CMEB, Modood has consistently argued for the necessity of multiculturalism, even in the face of fierce backlash. In his seminal work on the subject, Multiculturalism: A Civic Idea, Modood wrote, “Contrary to those who think that the time to speak of multiculturalism is over, I think it is most timely and necessary, and that we need more not less.” Since then, he has expanded on this thesis across numerous publications, continuing to influence scholars who identify as multiculturalists, critics of multiculturalism, and those who engage with the issues in between.

A key idea here is that of multicultural nationalism as a project of re-making the national identity to foster a sense of belonging for all – majority and minorities.

Modood’s thought is not only relevant in academic circles; he has also made significant contributions as a public intellectual. He has shaped discussions in policy-oriented work, media engagements, and broader public debates, consistently advocating for the inclusion of ethnic and cultural diversity. His ideas have remained vital to contemporary discussions about how societies should manage diversity and foster inclusive citizenship.

Engaging directly with Modood’s work allows us to explore the fundamental principles of multiculturalism, focusing on how these principles have evolved and continue to shape contemporary discussions about diversity and inclusion. Secondly, it allows us to delve into the core issue of including ethnic and cultural diversity in national identities, examining how different countries have addressed this challenge. A key idea here is that of multicultural nationalism as a project of re-making the national identity to foster a sense of belonging for all – majority and minorities. Thirdly, it addresses the complex relationship between multiculturalism and nationalism, with contributors offering transnational perspectives  that ask questions of multiculturalism’s methodological nationalism. Whereas for some issues of identity, belonging and citizenship fall short if they do not account for transnational forms of these phenomena, for Modood the national context remains the most significant unit of analysis for securing multicultural identities and equalities. Finally, it allows us to turn to religious diversity and secularism, a key area of concern for multicultural thinkers like Modood, to show that multiculturalism must take account of religious diversity, and that to do so involves going beyond liberal individualism and universalism and an insistence on the strict separation or privatisation of religion and state.

Modood’s work, then, makes the case for multiculturalism, peeling back the rhetoric to identify and understand how it remains relevant in policy as well as scholarship.

All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of LSE British Politics and Policy, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Image credit: chrisdorney on Shuterstock