Definition(s) A policy that endorses the principle of cultural diversity and supports the right of different cultural and ethnic groups to retain distinctive cultural identities ensuring their equitable access to society, encompassing constitutional principles and commonly shared values prevailing in the society. Source(s) Derived by EMN from the FRA (EUMC) Open Glossary (no longer available online). Translations BG: мултикултурализъм CS: multikulturalismus DE: Multikulturalismus EL: πολυπολιτισμικότητα EN: multiculturalism ES: multiculturalismo ET: multikultuursus FI: monikulttuurisuus FR: multiculturalisme GA: ilchultúrthacht HR: multikulturalizam HU: multikulturalizmus IT: multiculturalismo LT: multikultūriškumas LV: multikulturālisms MT: Multikulturaliżmu NL: multiculturalisme PL: wielokulturowość PT: multiculturalismo RO: multiculturalism SK: multikulturalizmus SL: multikulturalizem SV: multikulturalism NO: multikulturalisme KA: კულტურული მრავალფეროვნების დაცვის პოლიტიკა/მულტიკულტურალიზმი UK: мультикультуралізм HY: բազմամշակութայնություն Synonym(s) interculturalism Related Term(s) cultural diversity Note(s) 1. The term was first used in 1957 to describe CH, but came into common currency in Canada in the late 1960s. It quickly spread to other English-speaking countries. 2. There is no universally accepted definition of multiculturalism, multiculturalism can refer to different concepts: demographic facts, philosophical or political ideas and values. 3. Multiculturalism emphasises cultural differences and different cultures existing next to each other without necessarily much contact or participative interaction. 4. The model of multiculturalism has often been criticised on different grounds. Critics of multiculturalism question the ideal of the maintenance of distinct ethnic cultures within a state; others argue that policies of multiculturalism have failed to create inclusion of different cultures within society, but instead have divided society by legitimising segregated separate communities that have isolated themselves and accentuated their specificity.
