“A Defence of Multiculturalism”

By Tariq Modood
Evaluating an argument: Testing the logic of a text as well as its credibility and emotional impact.
All writers make assertions that they want you to accept as true. As a critical reader, you should not accept anything on face value but
to recognize every assertion as an argument that must be carefully evaluated. An argument has two essential parts: a claim and sup-
port. The claim asserts a conclusion -- an idea, an opinion, a judgment, or a point of view -- that the writer wants you to accept. The
support includes reasons (shared beliefs, assumptions, and values) and evidence (facts, examples, statistics, and authorities) that give
readers the basis for accepting the conclusion. When you assess an argument, you are concerned with the process of reasoning as well
as its truthfulness (these are not the same thing). At the most basic level, in order for an argument to be acceptable, the support must
be appropriate to the claim and the statements must be consistent with one another.
ARGUMENTS · Multiculturalism is not about separatism, fragmentation, anti-integration, or anti-
British nationality
· Minority groups should have their own distinct character
· What are the main arguments
· Reconstruction of public space and public norms
of the writer?
· Change of the the dominant cultural values in a society so as to better represent all
groups within the society
· Commitment to Equal respect is what distinguishes multiculturalism from non-mul-
ticulturalism
· Recognition of the distinctive needs and vulnerabilities of different groups is
needed to tackle discrimination
· Not to try to deconstruct the identities that people say are important to them
· People have collective identities
SUPPORTING IDEAS AND
CITATION
· What kind of textual evidence
is used by the writer to support
his arguments?
· Paraphrase, quote or summa-
rize his ideas in your own
words
· Include appropriate citation
after each paraphrase, quotation
or summary.
The text contains mostly analogical and anecdotal evidence.
· “Thus, for example, the best recent public policy statement in Britain on multicul-
turalism, the Commission for Multiethnic Britain report The Future of Multiethnic
Britain (Profile, 2000), is quite clear that there is no inevitable incompatibility with
national identity.” (64)
· Minority groups' needs and vulnerabilities should be recognized (67)
· "An interactive idea of integration will clearly mean that we are always rethinking
what it means to belong to this society, to be part of this country, to be British. Mul-
ticultural Britishness has to be an inclusive identity, not one that says to some peo-
ple, well you are here but you are not British until you are sufficiently like us. "(67)
· "Out of an immigration process consisting primarily of the importing of (tempo-
rary) labour for jobs in the British economy which white people did not wish to do,
there have now emerged new communities capable of and perhaps wanting to main-
tain themselves as communities."(68)
EVALUATION OF EVI- The supporting ideas given by the writer are based more on opinions than they are on facts
DENCE and that's because he evaluates real life situations in his own point of view.

· What do you think about the sup- The writer is not biased because he sites opposing ideas and respond to them without over
porting ideas provided by the exaggerating or using emotionally charged language.
writer?

· Do you think they are based on

facts or opinions?

· Do you think the writer is bi-

ased in any way?

· What part of evidence did you

find reliable or not? Why?
KEY VOCABULARY/TERMS • Assimilation: cultural assimilation is the process in which a minority group or cul-
IN THE TEXT ture comes to resemble a dominant group or assume the values, behaviors, and beliefs of
another group.
· Make a list of the key vo-
cabulary/terms relevant to • Integration: cultural integration is a form of cultural exchange in which one group as-
the content and check their sumes the beliefs, practices and rituals of another group without sacrificing the characteris-
meanings from the dictio- tics of its own culture.
nary.
• Alienate: the act of alienating, or of causing someone to become indifferent or hostile.

• Segregate: set apart from the rest or from each other; isolate or divide.

• Separatism: the advocacy or practice of separation of a certain group of people from a

larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender.

• Insularity: ignorance of or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's

own experience.

• Secularism: a system of political or social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious
faith and worship.