Culture and Identity

The differences between ethnic groups within a society, especially those between the host culture and the cultures of immigrant minorities, tend to be deep-seated. The situation is not so much one of multiculturalism as one of multivaluism. The challenge is then to find a degree of integration that will nevertheless enable harmonious social relations. This will entail compromises having to be made on both sides (and it will be the members of incoming groups who will be obliged to make the principal concessions, a point that multiculturalists have found extraordinarily difficult to understand). Whatever solution is reached will need to allow for the retention of identity-giving cultural features and religious beliefs, keeping the charm of "exotic" cultural difference alive, and providing suitable conditions for constructive but also synergistic cooperation. Francis Jarman has here assembled a fascinating and instructive anthology of 13 essays by 13 multicultural authors on this highly-relevant topic. No student of ethnography, sociology, or ethnic studies will want to miss this book!