Standing Up for Multiculturalism? or “Where I find myself agreeing with the Prime Minister of Canada and that the dirt won’t come off.” (Duck of Minerva)

I have a post up at the Duck of Minerva on multiculturalism, Canada and the UK. It was inspired by a column in the Toronto Star today on Steven Harper's surprisingly robust defence of multiculturalism (especially against Gilles Duceppe) in the Canadian electoral debates.

I'm not a huge Harper fan, but I think he spoke, well and forcefully for multiculturalism. Ignatieff is good on these issues and human rights (I've read enough of his stuff to know), but to his credit, I think that Harper may have done a slightly better job at keeping it "riz-eal" for the Canadian public.(So not necessarily a better argument, but perhaps phrased better.)

Finally, I'd not consider myself an expert on multiculturalism, but I so like to think that I have read a good chuck of liberal theory. And as a Canadian, I've been exposed to the idea for some time. I really do believe that UK PM Cameron has it wrong. Multiculturalism isn't some kind of ultra-pluralist relativism (and no one should be able to define it that way - advocates or detractors). Used as a facilitator of exhange and integration, I think it can be a good way of promoting integration and having a healthier and safer society.