A policy or ideology that encourages the coexistence and celebration of multiple cultural groups within a society, preserving their distinct identities rather than promoting assimilation into a dominant culture.
Formed from 'multi-' (many) plus 'culture' (from Latin 'cultura', cultivation) plus '-ism' (doctrine). The term gained prominence in the 1960s-70s as an alternative to assimilation models, particularly in Canada and Australia as they redefined their national identities.
Multiculturalism is like a cultural potluck where everyone brings their own dish and the goal is to enjoy the variety, not to blend everything into one uniform soup! It represents a radical shift from the 'melting pot' metaphor to a 'mosaic' or 'salad bowl' vision of society.
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