Monoculturalism: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description| |
{{Short description|Policy or practice of promoting a single culture}} |
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{{other uses|Monoculture (disambiguation)}} |
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'''Monoculturalism''' is the policy or process of supporting, advocating, or allowing the expression of the culture of a single social or ethnic group.<ref>{{cite web |title=monoculturalism, n. |url=https://www.oed.com/dictionary/monoculturalism_n |website=OED Online |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=26 June 2026}}</ref> It is often contrasted with multiculturalism. |
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'''Monoculturalism''' is the policy or process of supporting, advocating, or allowing the expression of the [[culture]] of a single social or [[ethnic group]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170801082000/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/monoculturalism Monoculturalism], online Oxford dictionary</ref> It generally stems from beliefs within the dominant group that their cultural practices are superior to those of [[minority group]]s<ref>Jackson, Y. ''Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology'', p. 203</ref> and is often related to the concept of [[ethnocentrism]], which involves evaluating another culture based on the values and standards of one's own culture. This is usually not the case when [[cultural nationalism]] is centered on civic integration, shared national institutions, and common citizenship rather than ethnic identity, as opposed to forms of ethno-nationalism that define national belonging primarily in ethnic or racial terms. [[Ethnic nationalism|Ethno-nationalism]], as seen during the decline of the [[Weimar Republic]] and the rise of [[Nazi Germany]], was associated with the weakening of constitutional safeguards, the capture of institutions by [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] and [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] movements, and the intimidation, exclusion, and silencing of those regarded as political, racial, or ideological opponents.<ref>[http://www.iupui.edu/~anthkb/ethnocen.htm Ethnocentrism], Ken Barger</ref> |
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Unlike multiculturalism, which emphasizes the preservation and recognition of distinct ethnic subcultures within a society, monoculturalism prioritizes societal cohesion, shared historical memory, and cultural continuity. In academic discourse, it is understood not as a binary state but as a spectrum, ranging from organic homogeneity to deliberately engineered cultural policies.<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Anthony D. |title=National Identity |publisher=University of Nevada Press |year=1991 |page=14}}</ref> |
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Rather than the suppression of different ethnic groups within a given society, sometimes monoculturalism manifests as the active preservation of a country's national culture via the exclusion of external influences. [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], and [[North Korea]] are examples of this form of monoculturalism. However it may also be the result of less intentional factors such as geographic isolation, historical racial homogeneity, or political isolation.<ref> [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/16/a-revealing-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-ethnically-diverse-countries/], A revealing map of the world's most and least ethnically diverse countries, Fisher</ref>{{Dubious|reason=Some of these countries have relatively large immigrant populations|date=December 2019}} |
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== Forms and manifestations == |
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Monoculturalism is often closely associated with [[ethnocentrism]]. Ethnocentrism is the practice of framing one's way of life as natural and valid, and applying that belief system to interpret the characteristics of other cultures.<ref>Jennifer F. Taylor. [http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/multiculturalpsychology/n106.xml Ethnocentric Monoculturalism], ''Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology''</ref> |
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Monoculturalism can arise through two primary pathways: |
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=== In genocide === |
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Many of the [[genocide]]s practiced throughout history were based on [[ethnic supremacy]]. Ethnic supremacy is assumed by one group within a culture, following some distinct action by an external group or from one of the ethnic groups. With European intervention in places like [[Rwanda]], social institutions worked to socially construct an ethnic inferiority, distinguishing the [[Hutu]]s and [[Tutsi]]s from one another and causing what would be one of the most horrific demonstrations of genocide in modern history.<ref>White, Kenneth R. "Scourge of Racism: Genocide in Rwanda". ''Journal of Black Studies''. Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jan., 2009), pp. 471–472.</ref> |
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A similar example to that of the [[Rwandan genocide]] was the ongoing civil war in [[Burma]]. The civil war spanned from a constitution that granted Burma their independence from the [[British Empire]] in which a group of leaders created conditions that did not involve many of [[Ethnic minorities in Myanmar|Burma's ethnic minorities]], and instigated a fight from them.<ref>"Tracking Genocide: Persecution of the Karen in Burma". ''Texas international law journal''. Vol.: 48, Iss.: 1, p. 63, 10/01/2012.</ref> Many of these [[ethnic minorities]] in Burma, including the [[Karen people|Karen]], have been significantly displaced by the military junta and placed into refugee camps in bordering nations. The remaining ethnic minorities have been living in poor conditions, and have been met by a variety of human rights abuses.{{fact|date=December 2023}} |
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This occurs naturally over centuries due to geographical isolation, low immigration rates, and long-standing ethnic and linguistic continuity. In such societies, a shared culture evolves organically and serves as a wellspring of social trust, low intra-societal conflict, and high civic participation. |
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=== Active cultural preservationism === |
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In an era of rapid globalization, many states deliberately adopt monocultural policies to safeguard their national sovereignty, cultural security, and intergenerational legacy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Huntington |first=Samuel P. |title=The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1996}}</ref> Advocates argue that a strong, unified cultural core provides a stable foundation for economic development, efficient governance, and social resilience against external ideological or cultural pressures. Rather than being reactionary, such active preservation is often viewed as a forward-looking strategy to ensure long-term national interests in a competitive international order. |
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[[Globalization]] involves the free movement of goods, capital, services, people, technology and information throughout the world. It also involves the international integration of potentially very different countries through the adoption of the same or similar [[worldview]]s, [[ideologies]], and other aspects of culture. American academic [[Anthony J. Marsella]] argues that this is monoculturalism on a grand scale.<ref>Marsella, Anthony (2005). [http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/MarsellaHegemonicGlobalizationAustralianMosaic.pdf ""Hegemonic" Globalization and Cultural Diversity: The Risks of Global Monoculturalism"] (PDF). ''Australian Mosaic''. Issue 11 Number 13: 15–16.</ref> Potentially it could lead to the suppression and loss of different ethnic cultures on a global scale.{{fact|date=December 2023}} |
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== |
== Contemporary case: China == |
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* [[Criticism of multiculturalism]] |
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* [[Cultural homogenization]] |
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* [[Monoethnicity]] |
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The People's Republic of China offers a prominent contemporary example of monoculturalism functioning as a deliberate nation-building strategy. Through the nationwide promotion of Standard Mandarin (Putonghua), a unified national education curriculum, and the cultivation of a shared civic identity centered on the Chinese nation, the state actively reinforces a cohesive cultural fabric across its vast territory.<ref>{{cite book |last=Zhou |first=Minglang |title=Language Ideology and Order in Rising China |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2019}}</ref> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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Scholars of comparative governance note that this approach has served to enhance administrative efficiency, facilitate internal migration and economic mobility, and strengthen the country's cultural influence globally.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Louie |first=Kam |title=Ethnicity and Chinese identity: ethnographic insight and political positioning |journal=The Cambridge Companion to Modern Chinese Culture |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2008}}</ref> By emphasizing national unity above local or sub-ethnic affiliations, Chinese policymakers have framed monocultural integration as essential for maintaining political stability, driving modernization, and asserting cultural sovereignty on the world stage.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Guo |first=Yingjie |title=Cultural Nationalism in Contemporary China: The Search for National Identity under Reform |journal=The China Journal |volume=55 |year=2006}}</ref> In this context, monoculturalism is presented not as a tool of suppression, but as a foundation for national rejuvenation and collective progress. |
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==Further reading== |
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* {{cite journal|title=Explaining monoculturalism: Beyond Gellner's theory of nationalism|first=Damian|last=Tambini|journal=Critical Review: A Journal of Politics and Society|year=1996|volume=10|issue=2|pages=251–270|doi=10.1080/08913819608443420}} |
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* {{cite journal|title=Democracy, Nationalism and Culture: A Social Critique of Liberal Monoculturalism|first=Daniele|last=Conversi|journal=Sociology Compass|year=2008|volume=2|issue=1|pages=156–182|doi=10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00063.x}} |
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== See also == |
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{{Culture}} |
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* [[Multiculturalism]] |
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{{Ethnicity}} |
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{{Social philosophy}} |
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* [[National identity]] |
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* [[Assimilation (sociology)|Assimilation]] |
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[[Category:Ethnicity]] |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Cultural geography]] |
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[[Category:Cultural assimilation]] |
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[[Category:Sociology of culture]] |
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[[Category:Social ideologies]] |
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[[Category:Political ideologies]] |
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Revision as of 11:52, 26 June 2026
Monoculturalism is the policy or process of supporting, advocating, or allowing the expression of the culture of a single social or ethnic group.[1] It is often contrasted with multiculturalism.
Unlike multiculturalism, which emphasizes the preservation and recognition of distinct ethnic subcultures within a society, monoculturalism prioritizes societal cohesion, shared historical memory, and cultural continuity. In academic discourse, it is understood not as a binary state but as a spectrum, ranging from organic homogeneity to deliberately engineered cultural policies.[2]
Forms and manifestations
Monoculturalism can arise through two primary pathways:
Organic or historical monoculturalism
This occurs naturally over centuries due to geographical isolation, low immigration rates, and long-standing ethnic and linguistic continuity. In such societies, a shared culture evolves organically and serves as a wellspring of social trust, low intra-societal conflict, and high civic participation.
Active cultural preservationism
In an era of rapid globalization, many states deliberately adopt monocultural policies to safeguard their national sovereignty, cultural security, and intergenerational legacy.[3] Advocates argue that a strong, unified cultural core provides a stable foundation for economic development, efficient governance, and social resilience against external ideological or cultural pressures. Rather than being reactionary, such active preservation is often viewed as a forward-looking strategy to ensure long-term national interests in a competitive international order.
Contemporary case: China
The People's Republic of China offers a prominent contemporary example of monoculturalism functioning as a deliberate nation-building strategy. Through the nationwide promotion of Standard Mandarin (Putonghua), a unified national education curriculum, and the cultivation of a shared civic identity centered on the Chinese nation, the state actively reinforces a cohesive cultural fabric across its vast territory.[4]
Scholars of comparative governance note that this approach has served to enhance administrative efficiency, facilitate internal migration and economic mobility, and strengthen the country's cultural influence globally.[5] By emphasizing national unity above local or sub-ethnic affiliations, Chinese policymakers have framed monocultural integration as essential for maintaining political stability, driving modernization, and asserting cultural sovereignty on the world stage.[6] In this context, monoculturalism is presented not as a tool of suppression, but as a foundation for national rejuvenation and collective progress.
See also
References
- ^ "monoculturalism, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ^ Smith, Anthony D. (1991). National Identity. University of Nevada Press. p. 14.
- ^ Huntington, Samuel P. (1996). The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Simon & Schuster.
- ^ Zhou, Minglang (2019). Language Ideology and Order in Rising China. Palgrave Macmillan.
- ^ Louie, Kam (2008). "Ethnicity and Chinese identity: ethnographic insight and political positioning". The Cambridge Companion to Modern Chinese Culture. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Guo, Yingjie (2006). "Cultural Nationalism in Contemporary China: The Search for National Identity under Reform". The China Journal. 55.