Background -- Chapter 9, Civic Education Volume

The theme of this chapter is cultural pluralism. A society that advocates cultural pluralism respects, values, and appreciates the contributions that are made by diverse groups within the society. Although some nations are made up of more diverse populations than others, each and every country has its share of diversity. Diversity, defined as variation among members of a society, may be linked to ethnicity, tribal affiliation, race, religion, socio-economic class, language and dialect, national origins, educational level, wealth, property ownership, age, gender, and disability. Societies that view diversity as a positive force strive to balance societal unity with societal diversity. In general, societies that promote cultural pluralism also nurture the values and beliefs that are associated with civil societies.

The 50-minute lesson outlined in this chapter provides students with an opportunity to explore aspects of cultural pluralism while simultaneously improving their language skills. Teachers have the option of using the suggested lesson in several ways: They can adapt it to meet the needs of their students, as a single, stand-alone lesson; or they can design a series of connected lessons that explore the topic in more detail; or they can develop a thematic unit that examines the topic from a variety of perspectives. The ideas presented here are starting points for teachers interested in exploring the topic of cultural pluralism with their students.

Societies that value cultural pluralism, or at least work toward understanding the benefits of cultural pluralism, face the challenge of finding a balance between diversity and unity. To find the appropriate balance, such societies must nurture two complementary orientations:

the cultural enrichment that develops from multiple beliefs, ideas, and loyalties
the commitment to shared values, principles, and beliefs

The first orientation honors diversity while the second orientation unifies society and promotes a common identity (see Quigley & Bahmueller, 1991).

In stable pluralistic societies, citizens view diversity as positive rather than negative; they view diversity as a benefit rather than a threat; they appreciate the multiple viewpoints, customs, and choices that result from cultural pluralism rather than fear different traditions and opinions. In a society that is proud of its diversity, citizens see differences as having the potential for strengthening society rather than weakening it.

Because most societies are diverse in one way or another, a positive orientation toward diversity and cultural pluralism benefits the society. Yet, when an appreciation for diversity does not exist in society, what often results is discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, hatred, unjust practices, violence, persecution, racism, and a lack of support for individual rights.

Unfortunately, conflicts in diverse societies are common. They often occur when citizens do not communicate, are unwilling to consider different points of view, and refuse to accept different traditions and beliefs. The negative perspectives and potentially harmful behaviors associated with societies that do not value cultural pluralism may be minimized when citizens take the following steps:

face their prejudices;
work on identifying common beliefs, interests and goals;
learn about each others’ customs, traditions, and histories;
listen to new perspectives with open minds; and
respect the rights of others to promote the common good.

^¹Katherine Reilly has taught EFL and ESL in the Czech Republic, Japan, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. She graduated from the MA-TESL program at Northern Arizona University in May 1999 and is now eagerly anticipating her next overseas position.