Diversity as an EU cultural policy driver: Neutrality vs affirmativity in the construction of a European cultural space

Abstract

Abstract This article endeavours to contribute to the debate on how notions of diversity in European politics serve to consolidate socio-economic inequality and ethno-nationalism. Starting from the premise that immigrant minorities are a key dimension of European cultural diversity, the article explores the notion of diversity in EU cultural policy. It examines the incorporation of the ‘immigrant minorities’ dimension into the formulation of primary and secondary EU legislation in force since 2000. Qualitative content analysis of legal and policy documents serves to analyse two axes of inclusion: (1) the recognition of immigrant minorities in the definition of a European cultural diversity and (2) the identification of inequality and discrimination as salient factors of socio-economic exclusion. The assessment of the evolution of the notion of diversity shows that despite the increase in immigrants’ socio-economic exclusion and of ethno-nationalism, EU cultural policy uses a neutral notion of cultural diversity. It is argued that this condition of neutrality favours the diversity-inequality tension and the hegemonic position of the nation state dimension in the articulation of a European cultural space.