Essay Instructions: Multiculturalism and the Media:
Tuesday 27th April 2010
Report submission (50%) 2,500
Indicative report topic:
One report (50%) This will be marked in accordance with the established standards for academic work, but particular importance will be attached to original research and the use of evidence by the student. The aim will be to test how far the student is able to apply the ideas examined in the course to the analysis of concrete material and present the results in a form suitable for public presentation.
Discuss the recent controversy around the statements of Jack Straw, a senior UK government figure, on his reluctance to meet women covering their faces.
Books:
Books from theories of Multiculturalism
Essential Reading:
B. Parekh (2000) Rethinking Multiculturalism, Basingstoke: Macmillan (esp chs 2-5 and 7-8)
D. Bennett (ed) (1998) Multicultural States London: Routledge (esp chs 2 & 3)
F. Dallmayr (1966) ‘Democracy and Multiculturalism’ in S. Benhabib (ed) Democracy and Difference, Princeton.
A. Phillips (2007) Multiculturalism without Culture, NJ: Princeton (introduction, ch4, ch5).
• C. Calhoun (ed) (1994) Social Theory and the Politics of Identity, Oxford: Blackwell.
• R. Tsagarousianou (2007) Diasporic Cultures and Globalization, Maastricht: Shaker (Ch 7).
• B. Parekh (2000) Rethinking Multiculturalism, Basingstoke: Macmillan
• C. Taylor, (1992). Multiculturalism and "The Politics of Recognition". Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• C. Geertz (2000) Available Light, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
• D. Bennett (ed) (1998) Multicultural States London: Routledge (esp part 1)
• Hollinger, David A. Postethnic America : Beyond Multiculturalism. New York : Basic Books, 1995.
• Hannerz, U. (1990) ‘Cosmopolitans and Locals in World Culture’, in M. Featherstone (ed) Global Culture Sage, London: 237??"252.
Planning:
Link to theories
Debates in the press, how did the Jack Straw develop and don't only mention what he said but also contextualize the debate with the meaning of multiculturalism in the UK and also in Europe.
How media took over produced arguments and how they are running with it and the interpretations of multiculturalism put in context. So the discourse and the narratives etc...
Start with the definition of current multiculturalism.
1.) - Hijab, How it symbolizes 'otherness' therefore disquieting...
2.) It is not just religious but it is a symbol of inferiority, by forcing women to wear the Hijab and to follow this 'patriotism'
- how women are tied down from wearing this and how it has now been banned in countries such as France, Italy and even in Britain now.
European society - they are worried about this symbol of difference and 'otherness and how they are indifferent to 'other' society especially Muslims and how this is linked to their gender.
They become symbols of - Isolation
- Alienation
- "Otherness"
From European secular perspective they are indifferent to difference
HOWEVER
It is not just that, it not just imposed to them but what needs to be known that in countries such as Britain, women make these choices not just seen as subdominant..
So this is when they clash with the Western world, as the Western worlds see it completely differently, however there are other people in the Western world that see it as a choice...so this is when we progress into a different argument...
Jack Straw's argument is useful but not necessarily trustworthy
If he had said multiculturalism needs to be reassessed then that argument would have been seen as more liberal, but he didn't say that, instead he said that we all need to integrate, and the people that decide about this integration should be the hegemonic ones, and what has been decided is that this is not 'Britishness' and unified and the Hijab is not 'Britishness'.
How has the debate in the press charted? And the different approaches to multiculturalism...
Link it to the theories-the liberal approach
In the past he has been good with human rights, so he is definitely not racists but the way that he approached this matter went a little too far in the public realms.
What these women say is that they don't want to isolate, but want to be as one but still wearing Hijabs as this is their own choice. (British Muslim Women)
So what is the future of Multiculturalism in Europe, UK? The fear of Hijabs, fear of Islam and fear for unity (the 'other')?
Examples should be bought from newspapers and how they developed through with Jack Straw's debate.
(Get access to his debate and unfold the happenings)
There are faxes for this order.
