National Identity In Multicultural Australia

Australia is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world with over 20% of its population being immigrants from other countries and areas that are not of Anglo-Celtic origin. The popular sentiment of Australians is always that of bewilderment because of its background as a British colony and of its particular location at the heart of the Asia-Pacific region. The intensity of this dilemma culminated in tremendous debates about national identity following the massive post-war immigration and the adoption of multiculturalism as an Australian national policy.This thesis makes a preliminary attempt at exploring the question of what constitute an Australian identity within the framework of multiculturalism. In order to distillate a solution from various events and theories, three major issues need to be addressed.Firstly, is multiculturalism leading to an inevitable collapse of Australian traditional value? An inquiry into the history reveals that the traditional Australian value consists of both its British roots and a form of egalitarianism resided in the spirit of Australian "mateship". It can be argued that rather than undermining the traditional Australian identity, multiculturalism is an extension of some of the best Australian traditions.The second concerns whether an "Australian national identity" is in conflict with multiculturalism. Through tracing the development of the definition of multiculturalism, a conclusion can be reached that multiculturalism under the comprehensive principles of social justice is the only viable way to secure solidarity in a society characterized by great cultural diversity.When it comes to the third issue, the conceptualization of Australian identity, this paper points out: any attempts to define an Australian identity should be based on the knowledge that the notion of a unitary national identity in the traditional sense is outmoded in the modern world. A possible way to evolve a sense of national identity in Australia is the construction of a new form of citizenship which encompasses the comprehensive principles of social justice and multiculturalism.