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Multiculturalism as a distinct form of liberal-democratic
governance gained widespread acceptance after World War II, but in
recent years this consensus has been fractured.
Multiculturalism
in the British Commonwealth examines cultural diversity across
the postwar Commonwealth, situating modern multiculturalism in its
national, international, and historical contexts. Bringing together
practitioners from across the humanities and social sciences to
explore the legal, political, and philosophical issues involved,
these essays address common questions: What is postwar
multiculturalism? Why did it come about? How have social actors
responded to it? In addition to chapters on Australia, Britain,
Canada, and New Zealand, this volume also covers India, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Singapore, and Trinidad, tracing the historical roots of
contemporary dilemmas back to the intertwined legacies of
imperialism and liberalism. In so doing it demonstrates that
multiculturalism has implications that stretch far beyond its
current formulations in public and academic discourse.