Recommend some scholarly articles or publications that extol the strengths and advantages of a multicultural society.

January 30, 2011 1:01 PM

Recommend some scholarly articles or publications that extol the strengths and advantages of a multicultural society.

I'd like to be pointed in the direction of academic writing or research that presents in a clear way arguments and evidence that paint a multicultural/multi-ethnic society in a positive light, and present it as a very good thing (or as a source of national prosperity, etc.).

Thanks!

posted by edguardo to Society & Culture (3 answers total)

Best answer: Will Kymlicka is one of the political philosophers who has written interestingly on this topic. Tariq Modood has a provocative book, Multiculturalism: A Civic Ideal, that is worth a look.

In the field of education, Marcelo and Carola Suarez-Orozco have written some in-depth stuff (both in collaboration and individually) that addresses key issues.

The economist best known as a theorist and proponent of multiculturalism is Nobelist Amartya Sen.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:12 PM on January 30, 2011

Best answer: In addition to Sidhedevil's fine recommendations, you might want to look at K. Anthony Appiah, Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers.
posted by brianogilvie at 5:35 PM on January 30, 2011

Best answer: Check out the book Diversity and Complexity by Scott Page. Its a rigorous but accessible complex systems treatment of why diversity is beneficial, for example how socially/culturally/ethnically/etc diverse teams are better at problem solving, and economic systems.
posted by JumpW at 11:46 PM on January 30, 2011 [1 favorite]