Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Multicultural particularism

Multicultural particularism is the belief that a common culture for all people is either undesirable or impossible. In discussions of multiculturalism, historian and educator Diane Ravitch draws a distinction between what she terms "pluralistic" and "particularistic" varieties and suggests that other writers often blur or ignore this distinction.

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Multicultural particularism is the belief that a common culture for all people is either undesirable or impossible.1 In discussions of multiculturalism, historian and educator Diane Ravitch draws a distinction between what she terms "pluralistic" and "particularistic" varieties and suggests that other writers often blur or ignore this distinction.2

In a long essay about multiculturalism in American education, Ravitch praises the inclusiveness of multicultural pluralism while decrying what she sees as multiple flaws and failures of multicultural particularism.2

References

References

  1. Asham bin Ahmad (August 22, 2006). "Debunking Multiculturalism". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  2. "Multiculturalism: E Pluribus Plures". The Key Reporter. 56 (3): 337–354. 1990. Archived from the original on 25 September 2002. Reprinted by Houghton-Mifflin.