The policy of multiculturalism, 1972-1987 : a Marxist perspective

• Main Author: Moosa-Mitha, Mehmoona
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1990
• Subjects: Cultural pluralism > Canada.; Marxian school of sociology
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=59950

This paper will examine the policy of multiculturalism using a Marxist perspective. This will be achieved through an analysis of the policy of multiculturalism in two aspects. The first will be concerned with examining a set of objective factors, such as the social milieu in Canada and the activities of the state when the policy of multiculturalism was institutionalised. A historical approach as well as the examination of the policy of multiculturalism as a federal parliamentary act, between the years 1972 to 1987 will be undertaken. The second aspect of social policy analysis, in this paper will be concerned with the analysis of the subjective response of an ethnic community, the Ismaili community to the policy of multiculturalism. This will be achieved through a discussion and analysis of a quantitative study conducted to assess the attitude of the Ismaili community in Toronto to different aspects of the policy. Key Marxist concepts as well as Berger and Luckmann's paradigm on social constructionism will be utilised as a framework through which the analysis of the policy of multiculturalism will be conducted.