Multiculturalism in the British Commonwealth - by Richard T Ashcroft & Mark Bevir (Paperback)

About the Book

"Since World War II, multiculturalism has risen steadily to prominence, but in recent years this growing consensus has been fractured. Multiculturalism in the British Commonwealth examines responses to cultural diversity across the postwar Commonwealth, situating modern multiculturalism in its national, international, and historical contexts. Bringing together practitioners from across the humanities and social sciences to explore the legal, political, and philosophical issues involved, these essays address common questions: What is postwar multiculturalism, and why did it come about? Covering a range of countries as diverse as India, Nigeria, Trinidad, Malaysia, and Singapore, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, this volume traces the historical roots of contemporary dilemmas back to the intertwined legacies of imperialism and liberalism. In so doing, it demonstrates that multiculturalism has implications that stretch far beyond its current formulations in public and academic discourse"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at www.luminosoa.org.

Multiculturalism as a distinct form of liberal-democratic governance gained widespread acceptance after World War II, but in recent years this consensus has been fractured. Multiculturalism in the British Commonwealth examines cultural diversity across the postwar Commonwealth, situating modern multiculturalism in its national, international, and historical contexts. Bringing together practitioners from across the humanities and social sciences to explore the legal, political, and philosophical issues involved, these essays address common questions: What is postwar multiculturalism? Why did it come about? How have social actors responded to it? In addition to chapters on Australia, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand, this volume also covers India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore, and Trinidad, tracing the historical roots of contemporary dilemmas back to the intertwined legacies of imperialism and liberalism. In so doing it demonstrates that multiculturalism has implications that stretch far beyond its current formulations in public and academic discourse.

From the Back Cover

"This volume makes a significant contribution to history and politics of cross-national multiculturalism within the English-speaking world. All of the chapters offer original perspectives, and while there are numerous edited volumes concerned with the politics of multiculturalism, no other specifically focuses upon the Commonwealth and in a manner that includes history, politics, and law. I expect this book to quickly become a principal text."--Andrew Fagan, author of Human Rights and Cultural Diversity

"Ashcroft and Bevir have put together an excellent collection of essays by a first-rate group of scholars. This book provides invaluable historical context to a debate that has been central to contemporary political philosophy for several decades and that remains a crucial political challenge for governments around the world. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the challenges posed by cultural and national identity to liberal democratic states."--Phil Parvin, author of Karl Popper

Review Quotes

"The book is extremely ambitious, in terms of both perspectives and geographical scope - and it does well on each. I believe it will be very useful to scholars and students in the field, and can therefore recommend it wholeheartedly."-- "Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development"

About the Author

Richard T. Ashcroft is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and in the International and Area Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley. His research has been published in the Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy and The Political Quarterly.

Mark Bevir is a Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center for British Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also Professor of Governance at the United Nations University and a Distinguished Research Professor at Swansea University. He is the author of A Theory of Governance, The Making of British Socialism, and Democratic Governance.