Category Archives: Multiculturalism

Definitions and ideology

The Psychology of our Immigration Unease

Posted on 20 April 2011 by Robert

Acknowledging our discomfort over migrants is the start of a conversation about ourselves, not an argument for immigration control. Continue reading →

Posted in Debate, Multiculturalism | 1 Comment

Multiculturalism Jumps The Shark

Posted on 7 February 2011 by Robert

Or rather, “State multiculturalism has failed” jumps the shark. David Cameron had made a speech about multiculturalism this weekend.  When I heard news reports about his remarks, I thought to myself that this was probably nothing new.  I have only … Continue reading →

Posted in Debate, Multiculturalism | 8 Comments

Global Culture vs International Culture

Posted on 6 January 2011 by Robert

Global != International Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Cultures, Internet Philosophy, Multiculturalism | Leave a comment

Salman Rushdie at English PEN

Posted on 9 December 2010 by Robert

Here’s a video we made of Salman Rushdie accepting the Golden PEN award from our outgoing president, Lisa Appignanesi. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robertsharp.co.uk%2F2010%2F12%2F09%2Fsalman-rushdie-at-english-pen%2F’; addthis_title = ‘Salman+Rushdie+at+English+PEN’; addthis_pub = ”;

Posted in Diary, Human Rights, Literature, Multiculturalism | 1 Comment

Kunzru on Multiculturalism

Posted on 25 November 2010 by Robert

Hari Kunzru is in Istanbul for the European Writers Parliament. He has just published the text of his speech, and the following passage is clear Sharp-bait: It seems to me that multiculturalism, once a useful and progressive kind of politics, … Continue reading →

Posted in Multiculturalism | 11 Comments

Hindi versus English

Posted on 4 October 2010 by Robert

However, what really puzzled me was the interviewer, who jumped between Hindi and English with no apparent pattern – some clauses in one language, some in another. What’s going on there? Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Multiculturalism | Leave a comment

Chimanmanda Adichie’s Single Story

Posted on 1 September 2010 by Robert

“I have always felt that it is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person, without engaging with all the stories of that place and that person. ” Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Books, Multiculturalism | Leave a comment

Defending the Cordoba Mosque

Posted on 10 August 2010 by Robert

Over in New York, an argument is blazing over the Cordoba Initiative, an Islamic cultural and community centre planned for downtown New York.  Shrill critics have labelled it the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ and called for the project to be cancelled, … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Multiculturalism, Religion, USA | 13 Comments

WOMAD and Multiculturalism

Posted on 29 July 2010 by Robert

One of the highlights of WOMAD last weekend was watching a comeback performance by the Afro-Celt Sound System, who rocked the tent on Sunday evening with a tight blend of two cultures. The undoubted crowd-pleaser was a three-way drum duel … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary, Multiculturalism, Music | 1 Comment

Trouble Looming over Burqa Ban

Posted on 14 July 2010 by Robert

So, French MPs have voted to ban the burka. We know where this story will go next.  Somewhere in France, a woman will engage in a piece of civil disobediance and enter a public space wearing her veil.  She will … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Multiculturalism | Leave a comment