Citizenship, Multiculturalism and Socio-Political Inclusion: Lessons from Canada & the US Irene Bloemraad University of California, Berkeley

Four Facets of Citizenship: Legal status Rights and responsibilities Participation – in political, economic, social and cultural spheres of life National identity & emotional belonging

Models of Civic Citizenship:

Multiculturalism - Public Recognition Public acknowledgement of ethno-racial backgrounds

Models of Civic Citizenship: Multiculturalism - Public Recognition Public acknowledgement of ethno-racial backgrounds Public Support Group claims-making and rights legitimated Public monies directed to ethno-racial communities

One of the most consistent messages we heard… was a desire to see an end to hyphenated Canadians. …participants asked the government to understand that our citizens just want to be Canadian. - Citizen's Forum on Canadian Unity (Spicer Commission, 1991) [Multiculturalism is] an institutional system for the marginalization of the individual which contributes to the diminishing value of Canadian citizenship - Neil Bissoondath (1993) Challenging Multiculturalism:

Government Involvement as Problematic: Objections -

Government Involvement as Problematic: Objections - Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity

Government Involvement as Problematic: Objections - Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity Improper use of scarce resources, which are allocated on the wrong basis

Government Involvement as Problematic: Objections - Government reinforces (forces) ethnicity Improper use of scarce resources, which are allocated on the wrong basis Public dependence undermines civil society

Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship: Models of Neutral Government -

Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship: Models of Neutral Government - French Republican tradition Universalism through the individual citizen

Alternative Models of Civic Citizenship: Models of Neutral Government - French Republican tradition Universalism through the individual citizen American pluralist laissez-faire tradition Equal opportunity and market pluralism

Problems with the Neutrality Approach:

Ethnic and immigrant origins are a basis for political mobilization. Salient to immigrants Political learning through language & cultural ties

Problems with the Neutrality Approach: Ethnic and immigrant origins are a basis for political mobilization. Salient to immigrants Political learning through language & cultural ties Inequality in political resources inequity in political outcomes. Facilitating political learning and mobilization

Benefits of Government Support:

Material Resources Money, technical assistance, policy access

Benefits of Government Support: Material Resources Money, technical assistance, policy access Symbolic Impact Rhetoric of diversity within equality very attractive to immigrants Concrete support communicates legitimacy

Fostering Citizenship: American citizenship: Life in the U.S. is flexible. If you go to work you will have money. You have all the necessities that you need. But if you don't work then you won't have any money. …I don't have much more to say because my whole life surrounds only these things. …I also have the freedom to travel. But if I commit a crime then I will go to jail.

Fostering Citizenship: American citizenship: Life in the U.S. is flexible. If you go to work you will have money. You have all the necessities that you need. But if you don't work then you won't have any money. …I don't have much more to say because my whole life surrounds only these things. …I also have the freedom to travel. But if I commit a crime then I will go to jail. Canadian citizenship: Its just the place that I feel home. [I like] the way the government runs things – I guess the great support, the multiculture stuff, the social assistance. We pay a lot of tax, thats true. But the great concern of government, the help for the citizens themselves.

Citizenship in the United States and Canada, Adult Immigrants,

Index of Foreign-Born Representation in Federal Legislature, Canada and USA,

Conclusions and Caveats: Multicultural recognition and support foster inclusive, participatory citizenship

Conclusions and Caveats: Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting?

Conclusions and Caveats: Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting? meaningful symbolism – how much government funding is needed to back official recognition?

Conclusions and Caveats: Multicultural recognition and support fosters inclusive, participatory citizenship promoting pluralism – direct public service provision or local contracting? meaningful symbolism – how much government funding is needed to back official recognition? beyond multiculturalism – other social policies