Multiculturalism--On Canadian Government's Attempt At Managing Ethnocultural Differences

The practice of "the community of communities" has been long regarded as a symbol of Canada. Multiculturalism, as the guideline in implementing such policies is of vital importance, since any lesson would be of value for countries, which are of diversified nationalities, and also for the world as a whole.Critics present their different opinions on multiculturalism from different angles. Some argue that multiculturalism for individuals is a policy of recognition, while others contend that multiculturalism is a way of killing one ethnic group's own traditions. Students get puzzled on what multiculturalism is and whether multiculturalism means to help make varied cultural elements equally prosperous in Canada. If the answer is affirmative, multiculturalism has a potential to become a solution for troubles worldwide. But when studies go on, we notice that it is commonly misunderstood that multiculturalism provides an equal chance for all cultures in Canada. Actually, the introduction of multiculturalism is deeply rooted in its historical, economic, and political situations. It does not intend to fully cultivate all cultures, since that could ruin the power balance between the British and the French. Multiculturalism rose from conflicts between these two cultures. Studying multiculturalism, we could locate their fighting and compromise all the time. With multiculturalism the officials convey the idea that they would not deny existence of different cultural elements by coercive regulations. But obviously their efforts to develop different cultures are not balanced. By multiculturalism, the Canadian government wants to manage the ethnocultural differences and to shape Canadian culture, which is backboned by European culture. And this essay is to testify such a statement through evaluation of multiculturalism in the aspects of its foundation, development, introduction and implementation, and to demonstrate how this strategy could be carried out.Chapter one, first of all defines the foundation: the backbone of Canadian culture. Though Canadian culture is composed of many cultures, it does have a dominant culture on which the nation is built.This dominant culture is European culture. And its dominant position is demonstrated by the population structure, traditions, economic and political advantages.Chapter two focuses on the development: the studying of the failure of European culture. Since we have had a dominant culture, it would be easy to understand the importance of building up a unified culture for a sovereign country. But the fact is rather disappointing. In this chapter, it analyzes the reasons why European culture did not succeed in building unified Canadian culture like the United States did. And this failure laid down the foundation for their current practice of multiculturalism.Chapter three is devoted to introduction: how multiculturalism is put forward. It focuses on the complicated political and economic situations in Canada from the 1950s to the 1970s. Because of its changes in immigration policies, its unbalanced economic development and dissatisfaction of political power, the French Canadians are urged to protect its cultural uniqueness. The introduction of multiculturalism is actually a compromise to French-speaking Canada so as to secure national integrity.Chapter four deals with the implementation of multiculturalism. The question of how multiculturalism works reveals the inner characteristics of multiculturalism. By the efforts of the federal government, galleries, languages and education, the Canadian government shapes and disseminates Canadian culture, which is summarized as Canadianized European culture.