Kanada: multikulturalizam

• Main Authors: Heršak, Emil; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia, Čičak-Chand, Ružica; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
• Format: Text
• Language: Croatian
• Published: Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies 1991
• Subjects: multikulturalizam; kulturni pluralizam; etnička struktura; imigracija; Kanada; multiculturalism; ethnic pluralism; ethnic structure; immigration; Canada; Kad’; Iceland; Islanda
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/127444; http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/188183

U ovom radu autori pokušavaju opisati razmjere i aspekte multikulturalizma u kanadskom kontekstu. Na početku rada ustvrđuje se da je multikulturalizam jedan od mogućih političkih rješenja za problem kulturnog pluralizma. Kulturni pluralizam, sam po sebi, jest antropološko stanje koje se jednim velikim dijelom razvija spontano. No, s druge strane, socijalne politike suvremenih država pokušavaju regulirati kulturni pluralizam na razne načine. Preuzimajući model Abu-Labana i Mottersheada, autori navode četiri politička rješenja kulturnog pluralizma: »korporativni« pluralizam (primjer SSSR i Švicarske), nominalni pluralizam (primjer Paragvaja i Islanda), »liberalni« pluralizam (primjer SAD) i tzv. »integrativni« pluralizam koji navodno obilježava Kanadu. U na¬stavku rada, autori opisuju opće prostorne i povijesne aspekte Kanade, i osobito problem ambivalentnosti ljudi u golemoj i geološko staroj zemlji s razmjerno »plitkom« razinom ljudske prisutnosti. Slijedi pregled naseljavanja Kanade sve do najnovijih imigracijskih valova. Zahvaljujući imigraciji etnička struktura Kanade se mijenjala: u stotinjak godina do 1981, udio ljudi britanskog porijekla je pao od 60% na 40%, udio Frankokanađana ostao je približno oko 30%, no udio Kanađana porijeklom iz drugih zemalja narastao je od 10% na oko 30%. Međutim, sama promjena etničke strukture nije presudno utjecala na prihvaćanje politike multikulturalizma. Prema autorima, najvažniji faktor za razvitak kulturnog pluralizma bila je prisutnost ljudi francuskog porijekla u inače britanskom imperijalnom kontekstu. Frankokanađani su uspijevali stalno povećavati svoje brojeve sve do sredine 20. stoljeća, kad ih je napokon zahvatila demografska tranzicija. Poslije toga jačaju i politički zahtjevi Frankokanađana za veću autonomnost u odnosu na dominantni anglokanadski kontekst. Medu inim, i u kontekstu tih pritisaka Kanada je 1960-ih godina ušla u krizu. Autori opisuju pokušaje kanadske vlade da u to vrijeme izradi novi program dvojezičnosti u zemlji. No na vrhuncu krize, Kanada se okrenula prema alternativnom konceptu »multikulturalizma u dvojezičnom okviru«. U nastavku rada, autori opisuju opće razmjere te nove »multikulturne« politike, navodeći zatim razne (kanadske) kritike na račun smisla i dometa multikulturalizma u Kanadi. Na kraju teksta, ponuđena su tri opća zaključka: prvo, multikulturalizam može zaista olakšati prilagodbu doseljenika u kanadsku sredinu; drugo, ukoliko etničke manjine ne pronađu neku praktičnu i osobitu upotrebu za svoje jezike, multikulturalizam neće moći spriječiti jezičnu asimilaciju; treće, stanje u matičnim zemljama »kanadskih« etničkih skupina vrlo je važno za njihovu afirmaciju u Kanadi (tj. u okviru koncepta multikulturalizma). In the paper, the authors attempt to describe the dimensions and aspects of multiculturalism in the Canadian context. Their first claim is that multiculturalism is one of the possible political solutions for solving the problem of cultural pluralism. Cultural pluralism, per se, is an anthropological state which for a large part develops spontaneously. Summarising the model of Abu-Laban and Mottershead, the authors note four political solutions for cultural pluralism: “corporative” pluralism (e.g. the USSR and Switzerland), “nominal” pluralism (Paraguay, Iceland), “liberal” pluralism (USA) and so-called “integrative” pluralism for which the example is Canada. In the next part of the text, the authors describe the general spatial and historical aspects of Canada, and especially the problem of ambivalence felt by people in a large and geologically old land with a rather shallow stratum of human habitation. After noting this problem, the authors present an overview of settlement to Canada, right until the recent immigration waves. Owing to immigration, the ethnic structure of Canada has changed: in the hundred or so years before 1981, the proportion of people of British descent has fallen from 60% to 40%; the share of Francocanadians has remained about 30%, while the proportion of Canadians of non-British and non-French descent has risen from 10% to 30%. However, the change in the ethnic structure of the country was not the major influence in accepting the policy of multiculturalism. According to the authors, the most important factor for the development of cultural pluralism was the presence of people of French origin in an otherwise British imperial context. The Franco-Canadians were able to continuously increase their num¬bers until the middle of the 20th century, when they were finally included in the trend of demographic transition. Afterwards the political demands of Franco-Canadians for greater autonomy in respect to the dominant Anglo-Canadian context began to grow. Among other factors, in the context of these growing demands Canada entered into a crisis in the sixties. The authors describe the attempts of the Canadian government at this time to plan a new program of bilingualism for the country. At the height of the crisis, the Canadian government opted for the alternative concept of “multiculturalism in a bilingual framework”. In the following section of the paper, the authors describe the general characteristics of the new “multicultural” policy, noting various (Canadian) criticism in regard to the significance and scope of multiculturalism in Canada. Finally, they offer three general conclusions: first – multiculturalism may actually facilitate the adaptation of immigrants to the Canadian milieu; second – unless ethnic minorities find a practical and specific role for their languages, multiculturalism will not stop linguistic assimilation; third – the situation in the home countries of ethnic minorities is very important for their affirmation in Canada (i.e. in the context of multiculturalism).