Ethnic Mobilisation in a Multi-Cultural Europe

by John Rex (Editor)

This book deals with two interrelated and intertwined topics. One is that of the meaning of the concept of the multi-cultural society in Europe, both as an ideal, and as a means of describing actual societies. The other is that of ethnic political organizations and the role that they do and should desirably play in a democratic Europe.Unlike the question of racism on which most liberal scholars are united, the problem of ethnic politics in the multi-cultural society gives rise to considerable controversy which is well represented in this book. For many the notion of the multi-cultural society is a desirable ideal, but for others it involves a kind of apartheid incompatible with the ideals of liberty and equality in such a society and a political situation in which minority groups can be manipulated and controlled.These themes have been the basis of considerable research in Britain but it has become clear in communications with European scholars that many of the assumptions underlying British research are by no means acceptable to researchers in Europe.

177 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994