Multiculturalism's Double-Bind

Critical literature has questioned British state-sponsored multiculturalism's capacity to confront racism and facilitate cross-community alliances; instead, multiculturalism is perceived to constitute groups in ethnically defined communities and essentialist cultures. Using a rich array of ethnographic and archival data, Multiculturalism's Double Bind demonstrates that multiculturalism can encourage cross-community political engagement in the global city. This book challenges the perceived wisdom that multiculturalism counteracts the opportunity for groups to move beyond their particularized constituency to build links and networks with other 'minority' groups, proffering a sophisticated analysis of how state-sponsored multiculturalism operates. In a thorough discussion of cosmopolitanism, the commodification of culture and the role of second and third generation migrants, it draws upon rich empirical data from around the world, closely considering the experience of the Irish and the manner in which 'Irishness', in addition to other ethnicities, was rendered inclusive. As such, it presents an innovative examination of the ways in which the mobilisation for recognition within state-sponsored multicultural frameworks can shape the cultural identity of minority groups, as well as engendering cosmopolitan identities and cross-community political engagement. Theoretically informed and empirically grounded, "Multi-Culturalism's Double Bind" will appeal to scholars across a range of disciplines, including migration and ethnicity, social and cultural anthropology, Irish studies and sociology.