Multiculturalism In The UK Today

Given recent events, the current Mori poll into attitudes towards multiculturalism makes for interesting reading. In many ways it marks the pressures multiculturalism faces today, between freedom and homogenaity.

In my view multiculuralism, which is a subset and required condition for cosmopolitanism is worth fighting for. It is worth fighting for because in a truly plural society we are better equipped to face other in a meaningful way and because in a truly diverse society we are better able to present the fullness of our faith. The deepest sense of community arises when the embrace of companionship is not superficial, but deep and fraught and the truest expression of faith comes not when faith is coerced, but when it is free and open to real choice.

However, the growing fissure between cosmopolitanism and localism, especially in its extreme and violent forms is making us ask soul-searching questions about the kind of social contract we want, about the kinds of exclusion we are willing to endorse. We need to rethink and re-articulate multiculturalism while we still can and while it still has wide support.