MULTI-CULTURALISM AND ETHNICITY IN GLOBAL CONTEXT

Assertion of ethnic identities, persistent demand for autonomy and right to self-determination backed by ethnic mobilization, ethnic conflicts and violence—all these pose serious and varied challenges to the developed and developing, plural and multicultural societies across the globe. At times, secessionist demands threaten the territorial integrity of a nation. Mutual ethnic tolerance is being subverted by discrimination and discord, thus raising critical issues concerning the relationship between development and ethnicity, growing ethnic intolerance in multicultural and plural societies, ethnic persistence in social, economic and political spheres, etc. Examining these problems in the global context in general and those of Australia, Bosnia, Canada, India, South Africa and African nations in particular, the book provides a holistic perspective on ethnic relations in the contemporary times.
With deep understanding of the socio-economic, political and cultural conditions prevalent in different societies, the contributors to this volume have raised many critical issues, such as: Does the principle of self-determination amount to secessionism? Does pluralism exist as fact in practice? Who do inclusivistic state policies cause exclusivistic reaction? is multiculturalism a reality? How does structure of ethnic consciousness get refied? Why do ethnic minorities agitate? Why do ethnic minorities agitate? Why does regionalism become a focal point for political debate and mobilization? these and many other such questions have been dealt at length in this volume which initiates a dialogue: Is multiculturalism a myth or reality?