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Multicultural discourse: A comparative case study of government practices in facilitation of multicultural public discourse in South Florida

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Date Issued:
2006
Summary:
Modern societies are increasingly becoming more culturally diverse. In theories of multiculturalism and governance two approaches to government involvement in managing the dynamics of multicultural interactions prevail, majoritarian and consociational models of democracy. The discursive model of democracy is offered in this study as an alternative model that allows for citizen engagement in public deliberations of conflicting issues. I argue that government has an active role in facilitating multicultural discourses in communities. In facilitation of multicultural discourses I consider public recognition of cultural differences as one important element for citizen inclusion in public deliberations. The practices of three county governments in South Florida in facilitation of multicultural discourse are investigated and comparatively examined. The individual cases are investigated and compared on nine dimensions of multicultural discourse, into three broader categories: forms of discourses, components of discourses, and implications of discourses. The comparative examination shows that government facilitation of multicultural discourse assists in resolution of multicultural conflicts in communities and in building awareness and tolerance of cultural specificities of others. It also provides for larger inclusion of socially marginalized cultural groups in policy processes. The extent of the involvement of county governments in South Florida in facilitation of multicultural discourses is often influenced by and contingent on the commitment and receptivity of legislators.
Title: Multicultural discourse: A comparative case study of government practices in facilitation of multicultural public discourse in South Florida.
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Name(s): Stanisevski, Dragan M.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Miller, Hugh T., Thesis Advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2006
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 380 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Modern societies are increasingly becoming more culturally diverse. In theories of multiculturalism and governance two approaches to government involvement in managing the dynamics of multicultural interactions prevail, majoritarian and consociational models of democracy. The discursive model of democracy is offered in this study as an alternative model that allows for citizen engagement in public deliberations of conflicting issues. I argue that government has an active role in facilitating multicultural discourses in communities. In facilitation of multicultural discourses I consider public recognition of cultural differences as one important element for citizen inclusion in public deliberations. The practices of three county governments in South Florida in facilitation of multicultural discourse are investigated and comparatively examined. The individual cases are investigated and compared on nine dimensions of multicultural discourse, into three broader categories: forms of discourses, components of discourses, and implications of discourses. The comparative examination shows that government facilitation of multicultural discourse assists in resolution of multicultural conflicts in communities and in building awareness and tolerance of cultural specificities of others. It also provides for larger inclusion of socially marginalized cultural groups in policy processes. The extent of the involvement of county governments in South Florida in facilitation of multicultural discourses is often influenced by and contingent on the commitment and receptivity of legislators.
Identifier: 9780542750090 (isbn), 12233 (digitool), FADT12233 (IID), fau:9140 (fedora)
Note(s): Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.
Subject(s): Multiculturalism--Political aspects--Florida
State, The--Case studies
Representative government and representation--Florida
Cultural pluralism
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12233
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.