Is Multiculturalism Dead?

A warning sign with the silhouette of an Orthodox Jewish man wearing a traditional 'Fedora' hat has been found on a lamp-post in north London amid one of the largest Hasidic communities in Europe.

 At a time when the foreigner, the immigrant, the Muslim, the Jew, the Mexican, etc are being constantly vilified by some segments of our media, one should not be surprised by the increasing intolerance towards 'the other'.

Indeed, it appears that parts of the media, right-wing politicians and the alt-right movement have almost made it fashionable again to be anti-other.

Cultural protectionism seems to be all the rage...quite literally.

Is this the end of Multiculturalsim?

The idea that we can all live under one roof with all our different cultures respected and intact seems to be dying.

Today the voices we hear cry for the end of diversity and the start of monoculturalism -  that if you live in our country, you do as we do; in other words leave your culture, your practices, your beliefs behind.

---

• But is this really the end? Or simply a blip?
• Has it failed? Did it ever really exist?
• Why the apparent protectionist back-lash?

---

These are some of the questions that will be raised in a SIETAR UK panel discussion on March 27th at King's College, London, UK.

Interculturalists representing academia, research, business and training will present their thoughts on the past, present and more importantly the future of multiculturalism.

At a time when our beliefs, works, values and goals are perhaps more threatened than ever, what can we do to turn the tide?

SIETAR UK’s panel, including Commisceo's Neil Payne, will be:

• Dr Katharina Lefringhausen; Assistant Professor at University of Warwick
• Faeza Afzal; Business Development Manager at London School Group
• Abby Beckley; Marketing Manager at Worldwork
• Bill Reed; Intercultural Management Consultant and Trainer at East Asia Business.

---

Date & Time of the Event

Mon 27 March 2017

18:00 – 20:00 BST

Location

King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

---

Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash