Editing Multiculturalism (section)

{{short description|Existence of multiple cultural traditions within a single country}}
{{Distinguish|Polyculturalism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
[[File:Reach Toronto.jpg|thumb|The ''Monument to Multiculturalism'' in [[Toronto]], Canada. Four identical sculptures are located in [[East London, South Africa|East London (South Africa)]], in [[Changchun]] (China), in [[Sarajevo]] ([[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]), and in [[Sydney]] (Australia).|alt=]]
{{Discrimination sidebar|Related}}
'''Multiculturalism''' is the coexistence of multiple cultures. The word is used in [[sociology]], in [[political philosophy]], and colloquially. In sociology and everyday usage, it is usually a synonym for ''[[Pluralism (political theory)|ethnic]]'' or [[cultural pluralism]]<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/9780470373699.speced1627 |chapter=Pluralism, Cultural |title=Encyclopedia of Special Education |year=2008 |pages=1591–1592 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0-470-37369-9 |editor1-last=Reynolds |editor1-first=Cecil R. |editor2-last=Fletcher-Janzen |editor2-first=Elaine }}</ref> in which various ethnic and cultural groups exist in a single society. It can describe a mixed ethnic community area where multiple cultural traditions exist or a single country. Groups associated with an [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]], aboriginal or [[wikt:autochthonous|autochthonous]] ethnic group and settler-descended ethnic groups are often the focus.<ref name="metafizika journal">{{cite journal |last1=Gasimova|first1=Narmina|date=15 December 2022 |title=Multiculturalism as the main philosophical concept in the social development of modern society|url=http://metafizikajurnali.az/storage/images/site/files/Metafizika-20/Metafizika.Vol.5%2CNo.4%2CSerial.20%2Cpp.77-87.pdf |journal=[[Metafizika (journal)|Metafizika]] |language=az |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=77–87 |issn=2616-6879 |eissn=2617-751X |oclc=1117709579 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110181145/https://metafizikajurnali.az/storage/images/site/files/Metafizika-20/Metafizika.Vol.5,No.4,Serial.20,pp.77-87.pdf |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref>

In reference to sociology, multiculturalism is the end-state of either a natural or artificial process (for example: legally controlled immigration) and occurs on either a large national scale or on a smaller scale within a nation's communities. On a smaller scale, this can occur artificially when a jurisdiction is established or expanded by amalgamating areas with two or more different cultures (e.g. [[French Canadians|French Canada]] and [[English Canada]]). On a large scale, it can occur as a result of either legal or illegal migration to and from different jurisdictions around the world.

In reference to political science, ''multiculturalism'' can be defined as a state's capacity to effectively and efficiently deal with cultural plurality within its sovereign borders. Multiculturalism as a political philosophy involves ideologies and policies which vary widely.<ref name="Harper2011">{{cite book|author= Thomas L. Harper|title= Dialogues in urban and regional planning|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7mZOF_gFhfYC&pg=PA50|date= 13 January 2011|publisher= Taylor & Francis|isbn= 978-0-415-59334-2|page= 50}}</ref> It has been described as a "[[Salad bowl (cultural idea)|salad bowl]]" and as a "[[cultural mosaic]]",<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cAg_jwEACAAJ |page= 31|title= Guide to Western Canada|edition= 7th|first1= Ann Carroll|last1= Burgess|first2= Tom |last2= Burgess|publisher= Globe Pequot Press|year= 2005|isbn= 978-0-7627-2987-6|access-date = 16 January 2011}}</ref> in contrast to a "[[melting pot]]".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lazWAQAAQBAJ&q=melting+pot+around+the+world&pg=PA111|title=Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing around the World [2 volumes]|first=Jill|last=Condra|date=9 April 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=111|isbn=9780313376375}}</ref>