Cross- cultural Communication This page intentionally left blank

Switzerland and Canada
A good example of multiculturalism in practice is Switzerland, which 
has the canton system in which separate cultures and languages are 
preserved, yet all citizens consider themselves Swiss. To a large extent, this 
is also true of Canada, with the French culture and language preserved in 
Quebec, although all citizens are considered to be Canadian. Canada is 
generally recognized as the first country after Switzerland to use the term 
‘multiculturalism’. It first became publicized after it was recommended in 
the 1965 report of Canada’s Royal Commission on bilingualism and bicul-
turalism, a government body set up to respond to the pressures of Canada’s 
French- speaking minority. In 1985, the Canadian government passed the 
Canadian Multiculturalism Act, which came into effect in 1988, which 
stated that it:
Recognizes the diversity of Canadians as regards race, natural or ethnic 
origin, colour and religion as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian 
society and is committed to a policy of multiculturalism designed to 
preserve and enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians, while 
working to achieve equality of all Canadians in the economic, social, 
cultural and political life of Canada.
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200 Cross-Cultural Communication
The Canadian approach to multiculturalism is often called the ‘salad bowl’, 
in which each culture maintains its own characteristics, while living side by 
side with other cultures. Canadian multiculturalism is based on the belief 
that all its citizens are equal and can retain their identities, taking pride 
in their cultural roots, yet having a sense of belonging as being Canadian. 
The Canadian experience recognizes the potential of all Canadians and 
encourages its citizens to play an active part in the full range of Canadian 
life. Multiculturalism, therefore, from the Canadian point of view, is seen 
as positively encouraging racial and ethnic harmony, while discouraging 
discrimination, intolerance and violence.
To become a Canadian citizen, one must show proof of residence in 
Canada and pass a test on the country’s history, geography and politics 
and on the rights and responsibilities of a Canadian citizen. In addition, 
applicants have to appear before a citizen judge who asks general ques-
tions about Canada. If successful, applicants then take the citizenship oath. 
Canada’s current multiculturalism policy illustrates that diversity has been 
maintained, but cultural clusters have become the result. Canadian national 
identity can therefore be loosely described as a function of all of its main 
cultural clusters where national identity has been described as an ‘embedded 
mosaic’, presenting distinct opportunities for integration. However, in order 
to ensure that the integration does not lead into assimilation in any one 
distinct cultural cluster, the evolution has been gradual. In effect, this has 
been advanced by means of formal intra- state diplomatic representation of 
the main cultural clusters.
The USA
The former American President Theodore Roosevelt warned in 1915 
against the dangers of what he called ‘hyphenated Americans’ when he 
said: ‘There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism … 
the one absolute certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing 
all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit 
it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities.’ In the USA today, mul-
ticulturalism is widely considered as both a social and a political concept 
in which the differences between individuals and groups are seen as a 
source of strength rather than of conflict. It is intended to work on a basis 
of synergy, celebrating the diversity of cultural origins and emphasizing 
the ideals of equality and freedom on which the US Constitution is based. 
Multiculturalism in the USA has developed as a result of the Civil Rights 
Movement and as resistance to the earlier approach of monocultural 
assimilation. The USA attempts to mix all immigrant cultures in a form of 
‘melting pot’ without any direct state intervention. The former President 
Jimmy Carter saw it differently: ‘We become not a melting pot, but a 
beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, 
different hopes, different dreams.’ This approach shows respect for all 

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