Multiculturalism at 50: Exploring Its Promise, Problems, and Possible Futures in a Global Comparative Perspective

Multiculturalism is at a crossroads. The rise of populism and growth of white supremacist groups in many states undercuts the pluralistic inclusion that multiculturalism promises. Across states, a common response to the COVID-19 pandemic was to shut borders to immigration, in effect shutting off a key source for population diversity. Not least, many of today’s social movements concerned with challenging exclusion have mobilized not under the banner of multiculturalism but around ideas like decolonization, anti-racism, and national self-determination.  Taking as a backdrop the fact that multiculturalism was a term coined in Canada and that the first official policy for multiculturalism was implemented in Canada 50 years ago on October 8, 1971, the time is right to pay attention to multiculturalism’s promise, problems, and possible futures.  This event brings together leading scholars to discuss multiculturalism and its future in international comparative perspective.

Participants

• Arjun Tremblay, Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Regina
• Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Professor in the Department of Political Science and Canada Research Chair in the Politics of Citizenship and Human Rights, University of Alberta
• Alain-G. Gagnon, Professor in the Department of Political Science and Canada Research Chair in Quebec and Canadian Studies, Université du Québec à Montréal
• Irene Bloemraad, Professor in the Department of Sociology and Thomas Garden Barnes Chair of Canadian Studies and Director of the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative, University of California, Berkeley
• Kiera Ladner, Professor in the Department of Political Studies and Canada Research Chair in Miyo we'citowin, Indigenous Governance and Digital Sovereignties, the University of Manitoba
• Tariq Modood, Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies, University of Bristol
• Tim Soutphommasane, Professor of Practice (Sociology and Political Theory) and Director of Culture Strategy, University of Sydney
• Terri-Anne Teo, Lecturer in the Politics of Race and Ethnicity, Politics Department, Newcastle University
• Debra Thompson, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, McGill University
• Anna Triandafyllidou, Professor in the Department of Sociology and Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Ryerson University

Click here to register!       Or view the event poster here!