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Multicultural discourse: A comparative case study of government practices in facilitation of multicultural public discourse in South Florida
Title
Multicultural discourse: A comparative case study of government practices in facilitation of multicultural public discourse in South Florida.
Creator
Stanisevski, Dragan M., Florida Atlantic University, Miller, Hugh T.
Abstract/Description
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...
Show moreModern 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.
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Date Issued
2006
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12233
Subject Headings
Multiculturalism--Political aspects--Florida, State, The--Case studies, Representative government and representation--Florida, Cultural pluralism
Format
Document (PDF)
Electoral redistricting and reapportionment: Options for Florida
Title
Electoral redistricting and reapportionment: Options for Florida.
Creator
Assmann, Carol Hynes., Florida Atlantic University, Schultz, Ronald R.
Abstract/Description
Congressional redistricting has become one of the many flashpoints resulting from Florida's uneven and ethnically diverse population growth. The Fourteenth Amendment's declaration that government may not "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" seems to have been taken to the extreme by creating congressional districts specifically based on race and ethnicity. This paper investigates alternatives to racial/ethnic gerrymandering. Methods such as...
Show moreCongressional redistricting has become one of the many flashpoints resulting from Florida's uneven and ethnically diverse population growth. The Fourteenth Amendment's declaration that government may not "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" seems to have been taken to the extreme by creating congressional districts specifically based on race and ethnicity. This paper investigates alternatives to racial/ethnic gerrymandering. Methods such as proportional representation, cumulative and preference voting, including multi-member districts will be considered. The study contends that even conventional districts can provide fair representation when based on major man-made and natural geographic features.
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Date Issued
1996
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15353
Subject Headings
Gerrymandering--Florida, Apportionment (Election law)--Florida, Election districts--Florida, Voting--Florida, Representative government and representation--Florida
Format
Document (PDF)