Multiculturalism in the Wider Europe - Reflection on the Current Situation

Authors: Aida Marukyan (AR), Ia Melkadze (GE), Marian Melnyk (UA)

IAM team, #challenge1918|2018|2118

Multicultural – Intercultural Difference

Seller of beach towels, Italy, 2018. Photo: Melkadze Ia

The rapid international migration and the associated socio-economic landscape shifts brought about new realities that need relevant action in the EU member states and the wider neighborhood. In this article, we reflect upon the current situation of multicultural Europe focused on the perceived challenges and their influence on people’s daily lives and the legal framework. The key message that we embrace is that in addition to being multicultural, Europe also needs to be a more intercultural place.

For the beginning, let us inquire the difference between the terms “Multicultural” and “Intercultural” society. “Multicultural refers to a society that contains several cultural or ethnic groups. People live alongside one another, but each cultural group does not necessarily have engaging interactions with each other”, and “Intercultural describes communities in which there are a deep understanding and respect for all cultures” (Spring Institute, 2018). The societies in the European Union and wider Europe, including the Eastern Partnership countries, are mostly multicultural. It is notable though that the challenge shared by both is achieving a closer-knit intercultural society.

In a wide area geographically and in terms of demography – Europe, there are (and were) many countries with their own and distinctive cultures and languages. Because of the people-to-people contacts, and other forms of socialisation and exchange, the common European values and culture have evolved as a metaset of the regional and local cultures. It is notable though that the path to the understanding and peace in Europe was quite complex. The past witnessed battles and turmoil, provoked, among others, by the lack of respect to each other’s cultures, values, beliefs, norms, and traditions.

Regardless that, if we start to think on the optimistic side and imagine what will be in future, in our minds we might pinpoint a kind of the world, where people respect each other’s values, traditions, choices, and lifestyles. But, what about now? How does the modern world work? How to ensure that we contribute to the respect of diversity and inclusion now for a better future?

Living in a foreign country, migrants every day hear thousands of hate speeches addressing them, they constantly meet differentiated and discriminatory attitudes because of the stereotypes with which they have nothing to do with. Problems are found everywhere: in the developed EU countries and other European countries․     
Now let us discuss some examples from different countries.

Armenia – More Efforts Required for Achieving a Thriving Intercultural Society

Yazidi women taken shopping by Khalsa Aid International. Photo: Savraj Kaur

Armenia is largely a mono-ethnic country. It is thus a less multicultural country than a European average, however, historically the national minorities have been living in Armenia, with their own culture, lifestyle, norms, and traditions. The most eminent national minority of Armenia is the Yazidi community. Although living in Armenia for a long time, Yazidis have not been substantially integrated into the Armenian society and have maintained their distinct identity. Armenians have not had hostility with the Yazidis, but discrimination and hate speech toward the latter is manifested in everyday language and interaction. For example, if someone is wearing multiple-colored or so-called “tasteless” clothes, or wears plenty of jewelry, people tend to tell him/her: "Are you a Yazidi?" or "You dress like Yazidi", to emphasize the person addressed is "tasteless". This remark, of course, carries a negative implication, and it is a form of hate speech. There are also other expressions that are like this, and they are explicitly stereotypical.

Accepting diverse cultures and their specificities also mean paying a proper attention to their problems and providing legal and social ways to address them. One of such issues is the early marriages that are common in the Yazidi community. Yazidi girls are bound to marry at an early age. They mostly get married 12-16 years old. This is really a problem that can affect the psychological and physical and mental health of the person concerned. Many female Yazidi minors are deprived of the right to the education in exchange for a marriage. Parents often forbid them to go to school and they keep their female children at home. There is still a tradition of kidnapping girls in Yazidi community of Armenia. The kidnapper in most cases becomes the future husband of the victim, as in case of return, the girl would face shaming because of taboo related to the premarital sexual relationships. There is no legal settlement on this issue. Taking all these into consideration, one should also pay due attention and take action to help overcome the challenges that the Yazidi community might face by providing more legal protection to the young girls and women. On the other side, more integration activities are desired for bringing the two communities together and overcoming the social alienation, including the measures to fight hate speech.

Georgia and Ukraine– Struggles of Reconciling the National and the European Identities

Girl from Tbilisi, Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Melkadze Ia 

Ukraine and Georgia both have signed the Association Agreement with the European Union and aspire to become the EU member one day. Meanwhile, the countries have been struggling with the territorial integrity disputes that involve Russia, and all the related socio-economic consequences.

The drastic social and economic situation both in Ukraine and Georgia, as well as a struggle for the independence and territorial integrity, have underpinned a very distinct type of patriotism and allegiance to the homeland and to the concepts of Ukrainian and Georgian. Ukraine and Georgia both aspire to join the European Union and the EU membership majority support in both countries. However, the consequences of the social and economic problems have their influence on how “us” and “others” are perceived.

Georgia has a distinct national identity and the perception of “Georgianness” is linked to the majority culture, religion, traditions, language, and history. However, Georgia also aspires to be the European Union member and shares the European values, among them the respect for the minorities. Regardless that, the Eurosceptic part of the society is bringing at debates exactly those topics that are a part of the European values, and still have been challenging to be accepted in the national narrative of Georgian society, sometimes prejudiced by the Post-Soviet remnants of beliefs and the ways of doing things. One of such hot topics was the constitutional amendment of the neutral wording about the marriage with - “a union between a woman and a man” that makes non-heterosexual marriages unconstitutional. The Eurosceptic pressure groups have managed to advocate for and make this amendment happen, restricting the minority rights.

Way Forward…

As countries with multicultural societies, the European Union and its neighbouring countries should try to achieve an intercultural society, in which cultural values and identities are respected. This can be done through state-level activities, such as laws, multicultural festivals and learning opportunities, as well as grassroots initiatives and people-to-people exchange. By getting acquainted with new cultures, people will see their positive aspects, they will realize that what is different is not necessarily a negative one. It is also a wonderful opportunity to learn new things, share experiences and take other people's experiences. It is also important to engage media and talk about what issues cause the constant hate speech, in order to combat the stereotypes and highlight the individual's importance and role in the society.

***

The article was developed in the framework of the project #challenge1918|2018|2118! The project is implemented by the European Academy Berlin with the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office.

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the position of the European Academy Berlin and/or of the Federal Foreign Office.