Presentation on: Presentation on:

John Rex (2001) “The concept of a multicultural John Rex (2001) “The concept of a multicultural society“ in Guibernau, Montserrat and Rex, John society“ in Guibernau, Montserrat and Rex, John

(eds.): The Ethnicity reader, Nationalism, (eds.): The Ethnicity reader, Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Migration, Cambridge, UK: Multiculturalism and Migration, Cambridge, UK:

Polity Press, pp. 205-220Polity Press, pp. 205-220

Julia SchefflerJulia Scheffler

European StudiesEuropean Studies5th semester5th semester

Otto-von-Guericke-University MagdeburgOtto-von-Guericke-University MagdeburgGermanyGermany

John RexJohn Rex• BBorn in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 5th March 1925.orn in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 5th March 1925.

• FFounding Professor of Sociology in the University of Warwick from 1970 to 1984. ounding Professor of Sociology in the University of Warwick from 1970 to 1984. Professor Emeritus from 1989 onwards.Professor Emeritus from 1989 onwards.

• Director of the Social Science Research Council’s Research Unit on Ethnic Director of the Social Science Research Council’s Research Unit on Ethnic Relations at Aston University from 1984 to 1988. Relations at Aston University from 1984 to 1988.

• Associate Director of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Centre for Associate Director of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations 1988 to 1989.Research in Ethnic Relations 1988 to 1989.

• Visiting Professor in the University of Toronto 1973 to 1974 and in New York Visiting Professor in the University of Toronto 1973 to 1974 and in New York University 1995, in the University of Capetown 1996. University 1995, in the University of Capetown 1996.

• Member of the UNESCO International Experts Committee on Racism and Race Member of the UNESCO International Experts Committee on Racism and Race Prejudice 1967 and President of the International Sociological Association’s Prejudice 1967 and President of the International Sociological Association’s Research Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities 1974 to 1982.Research Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities 1974 to 1982.

His best known books are:Key Problems of Sociological Theory (1964) Race Relations in Sociological Theory (1970) Race and Ethnicity (1986).

His most recent book is: Ethnic Minorities in the Modern Nation State:Working Paper in the Theory of Multi-Culturalism and Political Integration (1996).

““My biography tells My biography tells much of my academic much of my academic career and I do career and I do believe in the idea of believe in the idea of an objective sociology. an objective sociology. Nonetheless my life Nonetheless my life has been one of has been one of continuous political continuous political engagement.” engagement.”

(http://www.john-rex.com/main/(http://www.john-rex.com/main/aboutme.php)aboutme.php)

Source: http://www.john-rex.com

Structure of the TextStructure of the Text

Value orientations in Social ScienceValue orientations in Social Science

Plural and Multicultural SocietiesPlural and Multicultural Societies

The Institutions of the Public DomainThe Institutions of the Public Domain The Boundaries of the Public DomainThe Boundaries of the Public Domain Education and the Public and Private DomainsEducation and the Public and Private Domains The Structures of the Private DomainThe Structures of the Private Domain

Conflict and Compromise in the Multicultural SocietyConflict and Compromise in the Multicultural Society Summary: The Essentials of a Multicultural SocietySummary: The Essentials of a Multicultural Society

Main Quotation:Main Quotation:

““Thus multiculturalism in the modern Thus multiculturalism in the modern world involves on the one hand the world involves on the one hand the acceptance of a single culture and a acceptance of a single culture and a single set of individual rights single set of individual rights governing the public domain and a governing the public domain and a variety of folk cultures in the private variety of folk cultures in the private domestic and communal domains.” domestic and communal domains.” (p. 210)(p. 210)

ArgumentationArgumentation

Begins with Begins with sociologysociology Rex tries to develop an ideal of a Rex tries to develop an ideal of a

multicultural societymulticultural society Main feature: unitary society in public Main feature: unitary society in public

domain but diversity in private/communal domain but diversity in private/communal matters (p. 208)matters (p. 208)

Explains what is meant by Explains what is meant by public domainpublic domain::

law, politics and economylaw, politics and economy

The Boundaries of Public Domain are:The Boundaries of Public Domain are:

family, morality and religionfamily, morality and religion

The special role of Education:The special role of Education:

3 functions: 3 functions: -selecting individuals -selecting individuals -transmitting of important skills -transmitting of important skills

-transmitting of moral values --> -transmitting of moral values --> this conflicts with private domainthis conflicts with private domain

The clash of Values: The clash of Values: society which wants equality of society which wants equality of opportunity and toleration of cultural diversity has to deal opportunity and toleration of cultural diversity has to deal with this tension!with this tension!

His practical proposals for His practical proposals for Britain:Britain:

Schools should be agent of public domain Schools should be agent of public domain concerned with selection, transmission of concerned with selection, transmission of

skills skills and of civic morality and of civic morality community should control education community should control education

concerning concerning language, religion and family affairs – language, religion and family affairs – get funded get funded by state!!by state!!

Alternatively: education out of public domain- intra-Alternatively: education out of public domain- intra-communal mattercommunal matter

Social welfare/social work: training of already Social welfare/social work: training of already sensitive minority people in professional standards sensitive minority people in professional standards (give it to community!) p. 216(give it to community!) p. 216

Structure of Private DomainStructure of Private Domain

includes kinship, a network of includes kinship, a network of associations and a system of associations and a system of religious organization and beliefreligious organization and belief

this structure provides home and a this structure provides home and a

source of identity for individualssource of identity for individuals

Conflict and Compromise in the Conflict and Compromise in the multicultural Societymulticultural Society

- minority structures may not fit into status quo but minority structures may not fit into status quo but are not dangerous!are not dangerous!

- British culture not unitary – civic culture includes British culture not unitary – civic culture includes notion of conflict!notion of conflict! multicultural society must be anti-racist multicultural society must be anti-racist society because only belief system which has to society because only belief system which has to become disqualified has to be the inequality of become disqualified has to be the inequality of opportunity !opportunity !

OwnOwn experiences: experiences:

Unsuccessful policy of GermanyUnsuccessful policy of Germany No dialogue, ghettoisationNo dialogue, ghettoisation Murders within family because of Murders within family because of

„family honor“„family honor“ Is it good to remain private sphere Is it good to remain private sphere

untouched?untouched? Is it not necessary that also the Is it not necessary that also the

members of ethnic minorities can members of ethnic minorities can decide freely?decide freely?

Questions?Questions?

””Indeed it can be said that the whole Indeed it can be said that the whole system [of arranged marriages] gives the system [of arranged marriages] gives the bride more rights than does the notion of bride more rights than does the notion of marriage based upon random selection marriage based upon random selection and romantic love” (p. 216f). and romantic love” (p. 216f).

Where is the border between private and Where is the border between private and public?public?

How to teach majority in minority rights?How to teach majority in minority rights? Are state-independent schools desirable?Are state-independent schools desirable?

Textual ConnectionTextual Connection

Kenan Malik: “the idea of a plural or Kenan Malik: “the idea of a plural or multicultural society is (...) a deeply multicultural society is (...) a deeply ambiguous one.” (p. 170)ambiguous one.” (p. 170)

Concept of Multiculturalism: “overestimates Concept of Multiculturalism: “overestimates the homogeneity and autonomy of the the homogeneity and autonomy of the various ethnic groups and underestimates various ethnic groups and underestimates the degree to which all groups are the degree to which all groups are reciprocally implicated in the creation of reciprocally implicated in the creation of cultural forms within a common framework cultural forms within a common framework (...).” (p.177)(...).” (p.177)

ImplicationsImplications

Rex developed a useful model in contrast Rex developed a useful model in contrast to that of pluralismto that of pluralism

Politicians should always explain what Politicians should always explain what they are talking aboutthey are talking about

Special role of education!Special role of education! But he is pessimistic about his model of But he is pessimistic about his model of

living peacefully and with same living peacefully and with same opportunity of equality together.opportunity of equality together.

What do you think???What do you think???