Multiculturalism

 

Migration is one of the most important phenomena of the modern world. Lets face it: todays world, as well as, people who are living today are in constant motion. They emigrate and immigrate for economic, political and cultural reasons.

Multiculturalism

Sometimes they flee from war and persecutions, sometimes they chase after better life and future for themselves and their children. The problem of multiculturalism is inseparable when it comes to migration. What kind of relationship is there between these two concepts? What is the cause and what is the effect? This issue can be seen from at least two points of view.

First, conclusion is that multiculturalism is the result of migration. Masses of people from particular country or cultural background migrate to one country which have an influence on its demographic structure. That is what happened with the United States, which because the influx of Europeans (especially British, Spaniards and Italians) in the eighteenth and nineteenth century these countries became a multicultural ones. Adding to that natives and refugees from Mexico, and we have a multicultural melting pot. However, in Europe we can also observe the impact of the migration on the social structure of the country. The best example is our western neighbor - Germany. Migration of Turks, Iraqis and other people from Islamic culture led to the situation that today Germany can be successfully called a multicultural country.

This leads to further consequences. If a country is considered as a multicultural it automatically becomes attractive to refugees from around the world. Even today residents of Algeria, Tunisia and Sudan are waiting for the ticket to Germany. Country of many cultures is attractive to them because, they will not feel as a strangers in it, they will not also feel that they  "stand out". But this is only one side of the coin.

Multiculturalism can also lead to emigration from the country. One example are Jews who moved from multiethnic countries to Israel – known as a monocultural country. Of course there were many other causes of this migration, but  the needs of one culture cannot be omitted here.

The connection between the migration and multiculturalism cannot be denied today. This connection exists on many levels. The world is becoming, whether we like it or not, a global village, global state - and it is a multicultural state. Is there any escape from the multiculturalism? Time will tell.