Interculturalism, Multiculturalism and Citizenship

This chapter provides an entry point in developing a discussion on the relationship between interculturalism and multiculturalism. The question it raises is to what extent the present criteria proposed by advocates of interculturalism, in positively contrasting it with multiculturalism, are persuasive. In addressing this the chapter maintains that whilst interculturalism and multiculturalism share much as approaches concerned with recognising cultural diversity, the answer to the question — is interculturalism merely an ‘updated version’ of multiculturalism? — is ‘no’. That is to say that while advocates of interculturalism wish to emphasise its positive qualities in terms of encouraging communication, recognising dynamic identities, promoting unity, and challenging illiberality, each of these qualities already features in multiculturalism.