The Trojan Horse: Why Multiculturalism and Diversity Are Conservative and Neoliberal Ideologies
The Trojan Horse: A Leftist Critique of Multiculturalism in the West
In this book, Göran Adamson unmasks the dark reality behind multiculturalisms vain radical promises. Multiculturalism is a conservative idea, which is seen as progressive. Multiculturalism and diversity are about background, ethnicity, belonging, spokespersons, identity, and roots. Those who talk about roots talk about an idyll of the past, a historical Eldorado in contrast to universal suffrage, technological progress, equality between men and women, and everything else that belongs to modern society. A conservative ideology does not become more radical just because it is being cherished by journalists, politicians, and academics who say they are.
The Trojan Horse: A Leftist Critique of Multiculturalism in the West download epub mobi pdf fb2
Adamson argues that not only Sweden but the Western world has allowed a Trojan horse into its midst that of multiculturalism and its subset, diversity. He utilises the case study of Swedish universities focusing on the May 2000 report Diversity at the University commissioned by the Social Democratic government. He also presents a leftist critique of multiculturalism and diversity, based on meritocracy, democracy, equality, science, debate, modernity, and universal human rights.
The case of Swedish universities
The May 2000 report Diversity at the University was commissioned by the Social Democratic government with the purpose of increasing diversity regarding ethnic background among students and teachers in order for the university to better reflect diversity in society. The report made several assumptions that reflected the ideology of diversity:
Increasing diversity leads to increasing quality.
Diversity enables a diversity of perspectives to be provided so that different voices can take part.
Cultural diversity in higher education leads to multicultural and multisocial understanding and reduces ethnic prejudices.
The mixing of cultures reduces intolerance which increases societal acceptance.
Adamson robustly challenges these assumptions arguing that they are emotional and unfounded. He points out that there is no evidence for a link between diversity and quality; that diversity does not refer to individual voices but to group rights based on ethnic homogeneity; that cultural diversity does not necessarily lead to understanding but rather to relativism and segregation; that the mixing of cultures does not always reduce intolerance but sometimes increases it.
The egalitarian principle and the ideology of diversity
Adamson claims that his critique of multiculturalism and diversity is a leftist critique because of its stress on the egalitarian principle set out by the British historian Bernard Crick who, at the LSE in 1963, co-founded the Society against Racial Discrimination. Crick argued that the British public ought to treat immigrants from ethnic minority groups as equals but not as more than equals.
Adamson accuses advocates of multiculturalism and diversity of acting in breach of this principle: by proffering privileges to newly settled ethnic minorities. They have been treated as more than equals, with invidious feelings from the indigenous Swedish population. He gives the example of the Social Democratic Prime Ministerial candidate Mona Sahlin, who opined of immigrants that you have a culture, an identity, a history that binds you together. What do we have? We have Midsummers Eve and ridiculous stuff like that.
The self-abusive discourse and the transferred nationalism
Adamson describes Sahlin's statement as reflecting decades of self-abusive discourse within the Swedish political elite and a manifestation of what George Orwell had termed transferred nationalism, a kind of nationalism barred at home but hailed overseas or those who hail from overseas; a case of psychological compensation to salve liberal postcolonial guilt.
Adamson argues that this self-abusive discourse and transferred nationalism undermine the Swedish culture and identity, and create a sense of alienation and resentment among the native population. He also criticises the double standards and hypocrisy of the advocates of multiculturalism, who celebrate diversity abroad but suppress it at home. He cites the example of how the Swedish government banned a Kurdish satellite TV channel for broadcasting in Kurdish, while promoting Kurdish culture in Turkey.
The Trojan horse and the neoliberal agenda
Adamson also analyses how multiculturalism and diversity serve the interests of neoliberalism and capitalism by creating a fragmented and divided society that is easier to exploit and manipulate. He argues that multiculturalism and diversity are tools for social engineering and social control, that aim to weaken the solidarity and cohesion of the working class and to undermine the welfare state and democracy.
Adamson contends that multiculturalism and diversity are compatible with neoliberalism because they both promote individualism, consumerism, competition, and marketisation. He also suggests that multiculturalism and diversity are used to distract from the real issues of social justice, economic inequality, environmental degradation, and global conflict.
The myth of cultural enrichment and social cohesion
Adamson challenges the claims that multiculturalism and diversity lead to cultural enrichment and social cohesion, and demonstrates how they actually foster cultural relativism and social conflict. He argues that multiculturalism and diversity erode the common values and norms that are necessary for a functioning society, and create a situation where anything goes as long as it is different.
Adamson also shows how multiculturalism and diversity increase the risk of violence and terrorism, by creating parallel societies where radical groups can thrive. He cites the examples of how multiculturalism has failed in countries like France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden, where riots, bombings, shootings, stabbings, rapes, and murders have occurred as a result of ethnic tensions.
The leftist critique and the alternative vision
Adamson presents his leftist critique of multiculturalism and diversity as an alternative vision for a modern society that is based on meritocracy, democracy, equality, science, debate, modernity, and universal human rights. He argues that these values are not exclusive to Western culture but are shared by many people around the world who aspire to freedom, justice, progress, and peace.
Adamson advocates for a society where people are judged by their abilities and achievements rather than their backgrounds and identities; where people participate in democratic decision-making rather than being represented by spokespersons; where people are equal before the law rather than having special rights or exemptions; where people respect science rather than belief; where people engage in debate rather than censorship; where people embrace modernity rather than nostalgia; where people uphold human rights rather than cultural relativism.
The examples of successful integration and assimilation
Adamson showcases some examples of countries or regions that have achieved successful integration and assimilation of ethnic minorities without resorting to multiculturalism and diversity policies. He mentions Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Israel, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania as some examples where ethnic minorities have integrated well into the mainstream society while retaining their cultural identities.
# Article with HTML formatting (continued) , and social cohesion. He also notes that these countries or regions have faced challenges and problems, but have managed to overcome them through dialogue and compromise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Trojan Horse: A Leftist Critique of Multiculturalism in the West is a book that exposes the flaws and dangers of multiculturalism and diversity as conservative and neoliberal ideologies that threaten the Western civilization and culture. The book offers a leftist critique of multiculturalism and diversity, based on meritocracy, democracy, equality, science, debate, modernity, and universal human rights. The book also provides some examples of successful integration and assimilation of ethnic minorities without resorting to multiculturalism and diversity policies.
The book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the topic of multiculturalism and diversity, and who wants to challenge the dominant narrative that portrays them as progressive and beneficial. The book is also a call for action to resist the Trojan horse of multiculturalism and diversity in the West, and to defend the values and principles that make the Western society a model for the rest of the world.
FAQs
Who is the author of the book?
The author of the book is Göran Adamson, a Swedish sociologist and political scientist who teaches at Copenhagen University. He is also the author of Masochistic Nationalism: Multicultural Self-Hatred and the Infatuation with the Exotic.
What is the main argument of the book?
The main argument of the book is that multiculturalism and diversity are conservative and neoliberal ideologies that undermine the Western civilization and culture, and that they should be replaced by a leftist vision based on meritocracy, democracy, equality, science, debate, modernity, and universal human rights.
What are some of the examples of multiculturalism and diversity failures?
Some of the examples of multiculturalism and diversity failures are the riots, bombings, shootings, stabbings, rapes, and murders that have occurred in countries like France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden as a result of ethnic tensions; the banning of a Kurdish satellite TV channel for broadcasting in Kurdish by the Swedish government; the self-abusive discourse and transferred nationalism of the Swedish political elite; and the privileges and exemptions granted to ethnic minorities at the expense of the indigenous population.
What are some of the examples of successful integration and assimilation?
# Article with HTML formatting (continued) , Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, where ethnic minorities have integrated well into the mainstream society while retaining their cultural identities.
Where can I get the book?
You can get the book from Amazon.com as a Kindle edition or a paperback. You can also download it in epub, mobi, or pdf formats from various online sources.
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