The multicultural moment? The politics of the multiculturalism movement in the United States

This dissertation assesses the social and political factors which led to the rise of multiculturalism in American politics. Within the framework of a new typology, I examine four types of multiculturalism that the Multiculturalism Movement has brought about in the United States: Multiculturalism as the Politics of Celebration, Multiculturalism as the Politics of Harmony, Multiculturalism as the Politics of Facilitation, and Multiculturalism as the Politics of Parity. From a historical perspective, I analyze the success of the Multiculturalism Movement and the role of ethnic elites and ethnic grassroots organizations within it. I then turn to examine the implications of the Multiculturalism Movement, analyzing the roots and potency of the backlash against multicultural principles and policies, public opinion toward multicultural principles and policies, and the impact of multiculturalism on the positions and actions of America's two major political parties. While other scholars have claimed that elite white liberal guilt is the reason for multiculturalism's success, the general findings of this project indicate that both ethnic elites and ethnic grassroots activists were key players in the Multiculturalism Movement. Further, while the backlash against multicultural policies has engendered significant public and elite opposition to specific multicultural policies, there remains strong support for multicultural principles and a range of limited to strong support for some categories of multicultural policies in the public and by the Democratic Party. Given this evidence and the context of the continuing diversification of the American citizenry along racial and ethnic lines, multiculturalism, in its varied manifestations, has become an enduring feature of American politics.