Is multiculturalism the right way?

A Debate with Kenan Malik - 25 September 2010, Gothenburg, Sweden

Most people will probably agree that integration could work better. Millions of Europeans feel excluded from the majority communities. Is the multicultural policy really the right way? Critics argue that it is counter-productive and divides people into ‘us’ and ‘them’. Citizens are categorized in different ethnic and religious groups instead of being seen as individuals. But what is the alternative?



Kenan Malik - a British author, lecturer and broadcaster, Dilsa Demirbag-Sten - a journalist and author, and Maria Leissner – the Swedish government Democracy Ambassador explored these issues during a vivid debate that was held on 25 September 2010 at the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden. The debate was moderated by Culture without Borders Foundation. The event was organised as part of Our Shared Europe.

Kenan Malik argued that the multicultural ideology is a threat to our modern societies. He emphasized that diversity as a lived experience, including mass immigration, is a good thing. However, multiculturalism as a political process is something completely different. The confusion between the two has been damaging. According to Kenan Malik multiculturalism undermines diversity and is undemocratic since it stops us from challenging each other and does not allow us to question other groups and beliefs within our societies.

Maria Leissner brought up the issue of minority rights and the need to secure the access of minorities to basic human rights. She brought up the example of the Roma community in Sweden which, according to a recent government report, has been excluded from their rights since they arrived in Sweden several hundred years ago. Maria Leissner warned of assimilation and said it could be interpreted as oppression of the individuals’ cultural identity.

In response to Maria Leissner, Kenan Malik emphasised that minorities should be treated as any other members of society and not be given special rights since this might just assimilate them even more.

Dilsa Demirbag-Sten maintained that discrimination always has to be solved on an individual basis. A society cannot compensate for one person being badly treated by giving advantages to others from the same ethnic or religious community.

The exchange of views on multiculturalism in the Western society was closely followed by over 200 people who came to listen to the debate.

The event was organized by the British Council together with Culture without Borders foundation and Voltaire Publishing.

Information on Kenan Malik’s latest book:
From Fatwa To Jihad is Malik’s latest book published in 2009 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the fatwa issued by Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini against Salman Rushdie. The book explores how the Rushdie controversy contributed to highly generalised perceptions of Islam and the Muslims in Western countries. Malik declares that these stereotypes should be destroyed to build a world where cultures are better understood. The book also makes an important contribution to the discourse on multiculturalism. More on Kenan Malik can be found on www.kenanmalik.com