21世纪加拿大多元文化主义：挑战与争论

Canadian Multiculturalism in the 21st Century:Emerging Challenges and Debates

重新检讨多元文化主义的价值,认为它是加拿大一个非常重要的政策。它的重要性不仅在于建构国家的认同,而且保证加拿大成为一个包容、平等和民主的社会。首先叙述多元文化主义的历史发展,着重多元文化主义之含义的蜕变。同时将探讨多元文化主义与其他加拿大价值观念(诸如平等和民主)的关系。最后认为须对多元文化主义的内涵加以扩大以容纳各种文化。唯有如此,每一个公民才能融入一个集体的意见交流过程,共商如何建构国家认同与国家主义。

The purpose of the paper is to re-examine the value of multiculturalism and develop an argument that it is a key policy not only for national identity building,but also for ensuring a more inclusive,equal and democratic society for Canadian citizens.First,the paper introduces the historical development of multiculturalism,emphasizing the evolving meaning of multiculturalism.A meaningful evaluation of multiculturalism requires us to reframe the understanding or interpretation of the policy in the twenty-first century Canadian context where the domestic and international situations have changed tremendously in the last forty years.With this context in mind,the paper explores in what directions multiculturalism should be developed along with other Canadian values such as equality and democracy.Finally,a working argument is put forward with a vision to broadening the scope of multiculturalism,with strong emphasis on ethno-religious diversity,to include all types of cultures,so that every citizen is drawn into an inclusive and collective process in which Canada charts its discourse of national identity and nationalism.