Multicultiphobia by Phil Ryan (review)

The author has produced an interesting and thought-provoking overview and analysis of a problematic condition of the Canadian body politic that he has labelled "multicultiphobia"—a diffuse and widespread anxiety created not only by the existence and criticisms of multiculturalism.

The author makes it very clear that his goal is neither to argue "...that multiculturalism is a wonderful thing and that we have nothing to fear from it, nor that multicultiphobia is really something else in disguise: racism, nostalgia for a lost WASP world, or yearning for a past that never existed" (5). Instead, his stated goal is to point out that multicultiphobia is very influential in our society and, therefore, must be examined for the purpose of identifying "a range of issues about which we need to talk" (5).

This book should be read by anyone interested in Canada's multicultural composition, multiculturalism public philosophy, public discourse, and public policy. It will appeal to academics and their students at the senior undergraduate and graduate levels, policy advocates, policy makers, and anyone else who wishes to understand the aforementioned facets of Canada's multicultural legacy and multicultiphobia.

The book consists of four major parts. Part I provides a useful overview and analysis of the following: the multi-faceted conceptualization of the multiple components of multiculturalism; the genesis and evolution of multiculturalism philosophy, discourse, and policy in Canada; and notable critical works of multiculturalism produced during the past two decades. This includes Reginald Bibby's Mosaic Madness, Neil Bissoondath's Selling Illusions, Richard Gwyn's Nationalism Without Walls, and Jack Granatstein's Who Killed Canadian History? This part of the book also provides an overview and analysis of the discourses on multiculturalism that were articulated in Parliament and in the media prior to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in the United States.

Part II focuses on multiculturalism after 9/11. More specifically, it focuses on the interrelationship of immigration, multiculturalism, and security that resulted from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It also provides an overview of commentaries by Daniel Stoffman and Martin Collacott regarding the adverse effects of problematical facets of immigration policies on Canada. The other two chapters in that section deal, in turn, with the amount and type of attention that multiculturalism has received in Parliament and in the media. The author expresses concerns about ways that both entities have dealt with multiculturalism and multicultiphobia in the post-9/11 era.

Part III of the book focuses on the issue of "what we need to talk about" to minimize multicultiphobia anxiety and maximize peaceful and respectful co-existence in a multicultural Canada. The author identifies four major topics that we need to talk about: first, the relationship between multiculturalism and three types of relativism; second, the relationship between multiculturalism and what he describes as a "good society," which he conceptualizes as one that is democratic, egalitarian, peaceful and governed by the rule of law; third, the degree to which multiculturalism is having positive, negative or insignificant effects on social-welfare policies, social cohesion, and social interaction; and fourth, eliminating double standards on what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on the part of members of majority and minority groups.

Part IV deals with four interrelated questions. The first question is whether "multicultiphobia is immortal." In answering this question, the author suggests that "multicultiphobia" will undoubtedly continue to exist in the foreseeable future, and that the challenge will be to continue to understand it and to minimize its adverse effects.

The second question is how we need to talk to each other in light of multicultiphobia and our evolving diversity so as to minimize problems. The author's answer to this is that we need to talk in an open, honest, mature, and responsible matter.

The third question is "who talks" within the context of key multiculturalism discourses? The author suggests that all key stakeholders should be ready, willing and able to talk and that the governments and the media should ensure they are afforded the opportunity to have their voices...