Multi-cultural Societies

Under the concept of globalization, the world has become a global-village. One of the major effect of this new phenomenon is the creation of multi-cultural society. The study of anthropology helps in understanding the human diversity and its application to the knowledge that may help people from different backgrounds better understand each other (Guest, 2013). However, the idea of a multicultural society faces challenges such as racism, segregation, xenophobia, legal constraints for immigrants, and tribalism.

The world is already experiencing the effects of the mutually suspicious and hostile. Ranging from the civil wars in Somalia and DRC, the religious intolerance in Central African republican, the xenophobia in South Africa, the racism and continued segregation against black people in USA. These cases only indicate that the world feeling the effects of attacks against multi-cultural society.

Through globalization, time and space has been greatly reduced which has ultimately lead to change in the nature of the communities. Activities such as migration, economic activity, flow of factors of production, social media, and spread of popular culture such as music, movies and television has opened up new diversity of experiences widespread throughout the world (Guest, 2013). These new traits get to interact with and influence the local cultures. A times the new shifts challenge the tradition and customs.

The concept of cultural diversity is an inescapable fact in this modern society. I believe that the chance of existing in the single-cultural is long gone. It is up to us to brace the concept of tolerance and understanding of each other’s culture to ensure peaceful co-existence. It has been argued that societies in history have always interacted in a multi-cultural way. However there have been tendencies of ignoring the contemporary multicultural societies. However, most issues facing multicultural society in the premodern societies were based on religion but there would be consensus on moral beliefs and practices (Parekh, 2005). However, the current society has been propelled further into the differences due to lack of moral consensus and a high preference granted to personal autonomy and choice.

It is possible to achieve mutual recognition of other cultures within one nation. Nations are governed by the rule of the land that stipulates the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the citizens. If people abide by the rule of the law in a fair manner without discrimination, it is possible to exist in a multi-cultural society in a single nation. People need to respect and uphold the rights and liberties of other people. It is essential for people to improve on the tolerance for people from different cultures to ensure a peaceful co-existence.

References

Guest, K. J. (2013). Cultural anthropology: a toolkit for a global age. WW Norton & Company.

Parekh, B. (2005). Unity and diversity in multicultural societies. International Institute for Labour Studies.