The continued relevance of multiculturalism: dissecting interculturalism and transculturalism

Abstract

ABSTRACT As contemporary societies experience increasing diversification, the relevance of multiculturalism is increasingly questioned. Growing criticisms of multiculturalism have led to the claim of a post-multicultural era, bringing about the rise of interculturalism and transculturalism as two alternative approaches to the fact of cultural diversity. However, the declaration of a post-multicultural era may have been premature. This paper seeks to provide a conceptual clarification of multiculturalism by refuting two key and related criticisms of multiculturalism: Cultural essentialism and imposed cultural homogeneity. The notion of family resemblance in multiculturalism is explicated to demonstrate the flexibility and viability in its understanding of culture and ethnicity. The key tenants of interculturalism and transculturalism are also examined in the argument for the relevance of multiculturalism.