Switzerland, never ethnically homogeneous, has long been the prototype of a multicultural nation. It has four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch), is home to multiple religions, has a 20 percent foreign-born population, and its Cantons (cities) have substantial autonomy. Although all ethnic groups live a peaceful coexistence, in reality they lead parallel, separate lives, not ones within a fully integrated society. Its German majority (64 percent of the population) lives mostly in the northern and central regions; its dominant French minority (20 percent) are mostly in the western region; its Italian minority (7 percent) reside mostly in the southern region; and those speaking Rumantsch (less than 1 percent) live mostly in the southeastern region. English is the unofficial fifth language, both in the corporate world and in popular culture.

Recognizing the linguistic and cultural diversity among their indigenous, immigrant, and immigrantdescendant populations, both Canada in 1971 and Australia in 1973--two major immigrant-receiving nations--adopted multiculturalism as official national policy. Today both countries have the most fully evolved implementation of multicultural policies, but they also have numerous critics and organized opposition, leading both countries to temper their policies somewhat. For example, Quebec now uses the term intercultural instead of multicultural, and the Australian government in 2007 renamed its Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

With low birth rates and a growing labor shortage, most European countries sought foreign workers to meet their economic needs. Creation of the European Union (EU)--and the free movement of its citizens to live, travel, and work anywhere within its confines--led to its rapid adoption by most member states. However, a growing concern about unassimilated immigrant communities, particularly Islamic, led to reversals in official endorsement of multiculturalism. Denmark and the Netherlands recently returned to an official policy of monoculturalism (preservation of the native culture and exclusion of foreign influences). Other countries--notably France, Germany, and the United Kingdom--have been considering similar reversals.

Elsewhere in the world, India--with its numerous ethnic groups descended from several ancient racial stocks--is one of the world's most culturally, linguistically, racially, and religiously diverse countries. A democratic republic, its strong central government endorses a pluralist history, not a shared one, and its constitution officially recognizes 18 languages. Japan and South Korea are among the world's most ethnically homogeneous countries, while others, such as China and Malaysia, are culturally diverse but their governments are striving to become monocultural nations.

Bibliography:

1) Hollinger, David A. 2006. Postethnic America: Beyond Multiculturalism. Rev. ed. New York: Basic Books.

2) Kivisto, Peter. 2002. Multiculturalism in a Global Society. New York: Blackwell.

3) Okin, Susan Moller. 1999. Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

4) Parrillo, Vincent N. 2008. Diversity in America. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

5) Phillips, Anne. 2007. Multiculturalism without Culture. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

6) Taylor, Charles. 1994. Multiculturalism: Examining the Politics of Recognition. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Argumentative Topics at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Argumentative Topics and other relevant topics.