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Cultural conservatism is described as the protection of thecultural heritage of anation state, or of a culture not defined by state boundaries.[1] It is sometimes associated withcriticism of multiculturalism, andanti-immigration sentiment. Because their cultural preservationist objectives are in conflict with those ofanti-racists, cultural conservatives are often accused of racism.[2] Despite this, however, cultural conservatism can be more nuanced in its approach to minority languages and cultures; it is sometimes focused uponheritage language learning or threatenedlanguage revitalization, such as ofthe distinctive local dialect of French inQuebec,Acadian French,Canadian Gaelic, and theMi'kmaq language inNova Scotia andNew Brunswick, or theIrish language in Newfoundland. Other times cultural conservatism is more focused upon the preservation of an ethnic minority's endangered ancestral culture, such as those ofNative Americans.
In the United States,cultural conservatism may imply a conservative position in theculture wars. Because cultural conservatism expresses the social dimension ofconservatism according to thepolitical compass theory, it is sometimes referred to as social conservatism. Instead,social conservatism describes conservative moral andsocial values, ortraditionalist conservative stances on socio-cultural issues, such asabortion andsame-sex marriage, in opposition tocultural liberalism (social liberalism in the United States).[3] Meanwhile,nationalism also differs from cultural conservatism as it does not always focus upon a particular culture.
Proponents argue that cultural conservatism preserves thecultural identity of a country. They often promotecultural assimilation into thedominant culture, believing thatmonoculturalism is more constructive to national unity.[4][5] They claim that assimilation facilitates the integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities into broader society, framing cultural conservatism as a solution to ethnic strife.[6][7] Researchers note that the moreculturally homogeneous a community is, the more people trust each other; a finding which has been substantiated by empirical literature demonstrating ethnic and cultural diversity to be inversely related to social cohesion and trust..[8]
Proponents of cultural conservatism have criticizedmulticulturalism, believing thatcultural pluralism is detrimental to a unified national identity. They argue thatcultural diversity only serves to marginalize immigrants by othering them as outsiders in society. In some countries, multiculturalism is believed to createde factoracial segregation in the form ofethnic enclaves.[6][7]Opposition to immigration is also a common stance among proponents. Immigrants often bring their home countries' cultures, religions, and languages with them, sometimes influencing and changing thecultures of their host countries.[9] Proponents of cultural conservatism argue that some of these imported cultural practices, such ashijabs,polygamy,child marriage, andfemale genital mutilation, are in direct conflict with the values of thedominant culture.[10][11]
Opponents argue that cultural conservatism harmscultural diversity. They criticize cultural conservatism for promoting cultural intolerance, creating narrowethnocentric mindsets, and stifling self-expression.[12] Opponents cite numerous historical atrocities that originated from extreme forms of cultural conservatism, such asracism,genocide,ethnic cleansing,colonialism, andracial segregation. They claim thatcultural assimilation leads to the marginalization of minorities who do not conform to the dominant culture.[13]
Opponents have supportedmulticulturalism, believing it creates a more diverse and tolerant society. They claim it helps people of theethnic majority to learn more about other cultures, adapt better to social change, and be more tolerant of diversity.[12] They also believe multiculturalism brings more attention to the historical accomplishments of other ethnic groups, which had been neglected in past times.[14] Support forimmigration is also a common stance among opponents of cultural conservatism, who argue that it enriches society by contributing diverse new ideas. In some cases, the art, music, food, or clothing of the immigrants areadopted by the dominant culture.[15]
In 2006, theAustralian Government proposed to introduce a compulsory citizenship test which would assess English skills and knowledge of Australian values. This sparked a debate over cultural conservatism inAustralia.Andrew Robb told a conference that some Australians worried that interest groups had transformed multiculturalism into a philosophy that put "allegiances to original culture ahead of national loyalty, a philosophy which fosters separate development, a federation of ethnic cultures, not one community."[16]
TheOne Nation Party is a conservative political party that opposes multiculturalism, calling it "a threat to the very basis of the Australian culture, identity and shared values."[17]
Unlike the United States, while there was a central culture,Canada has always been a culturally divided country, though to varying degrees. Since the premiership ofPierre Trudeau,Canadian identity has been viewed as acultural mosaic. Trudeau Sr. once stated that there is "no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian," and that to desire one is a "disastrous" pursuit.[18] His sonJustin Trudeau, likewise Prime Minister, has continued to spread this spirit in declaring Canada "the first post-national state" due to its lack of a core identity and mainstream.[19] The fifth wave ofimmigration to Canada which followed Trudeau Sr.'s premiership and continues to this day is the largest manifestation of this change. For example, the city ofRichmond, British Columbia is majority Chinese, and nearly half ofTorontonians are foreign-born, the city which now bears the motto "Diversity Our Strength."[20] Canadian cultural conservatism as a reaction to the multiculturalism of Pierre Trudeau (and subsequently ofBrian Mulroney) reached its peak with theReform Party and waned over time. Its decline has been marked by theelectoral failure of thePeople's Party of Canada, which formed partly as a response to theConservative Party's perceived weakness on the issue.[21]
Quebec is unique in Canada for its cultural conservatism. Though not a socially conservative province, nor religiously conservative (not since theaftermath of theGrande Noirceur), Quebecois culture has always maintained a certain suspicion and reluctance towards unity with the rest of Canada. Language protectionism (reflected in laws such asBill 101) is a central concern of Quebec cultural conservatives. Quebec has held two referendums on separation and has never ratified theConstitution Act of 1982. TheBloc Québécois formed in reaction to the Mulroney premiership (like the Reform Party) to advocate for Quebecois interests in the federal parliament. It once held the office ofOfficial Opposition, which was followed by a decline, but the party has seen greater popularity as of late, currently holding 22 of Quebec's 78 seats in theHouse of Commons.
During theMay Fourth Movement,Xueheng School was the main school of thought advocating cultural conservatism. In contemporary China, cultural conservatism mainly has greater influence among the emerging middle class, and it overlaps with various other ideological trends such asliberalism,neoauthoritarianism,the New Left, andneo-nationalism.[22][23]
Central to the ideas of theCultural Revolution was the elimination of theFour Olds, which were elements of Chinese culture that at the time were seen to oppose the goals ofCommunism in China. However, theChinese Communist Party (CCP) at the time protected some of the most important Chinese historical monuments, including some archaeological discoveries such as theTerracotta Army.[24] The chief ideologue[25] and thegray eminence of the Chinese Commmunist Party,Wang Huning, has criticized the western youth for their supposed rejection of traditional western values in his writing; Wang argues for a culturally unified and traditionalist China, albeit mixed withMarxist-Leninist theories.[26]CCP general secretaryXi Jinping has overseen a revival in the popularity of historicalChinese cultural figures such asConfucius.[27] He has placed more emphasis on the value of Chinese culture than his predecessors and has included it among his"comprehensive" political goals.[27][28] Furthermore, Xi Jinping has also accelerated the crackdown on LGBTQ+ activism and pornography production.[29][30] Preservation of traditional culture is a major concern of modern Chinese conservatism.[31]
InGermany,parallel societies established by some immigrant communities have been criticized by cultural conservatives, giving rise to the concept of theLeitkultur. Conservative ChancellorAngela Merkel of theChristian Democratic Union described attempts to build a multicultural German society to have "failed, utterly failed". Many Germans have expressed alarm over the large number of Muslim immigrants in their country, many of whom have failed to integrate into German society.[32]
Italy is a culturally conservative society. Recent surveys[when?] show that the vast majority of Italians want fewer immigrants to be allowed into the country, while few want to keep the current level or increase immigration.[33][34]
Japan has been a culturally conservative society. Beingmonocultural, it has traditionally refused to recognize ethnic differences in Japan.[35]
Paul Cliteur criticized multiculturalism,political correctness,cultural relativism, and non-Western cultural values. He argued that cultural relativism would lead to acceptance of outdated practices brought to the Western World by immigrants such assexism,homophobia, andantisemitism.[36][37]
Paul Scheffer believes that cultural conservatism and integration are necessary for a society, but the presence of immigrants undermines this. He cites failure to assimilate, de facto segregation, unemployment,crime, and Muslim opposition to secularism as the main problems resulting from immigration.[38]
InRussia,Russian culture has been defended by cultural conservatives on the grounds that the destruction of traditional values is undemocratic.[39]
In the 20th century,immigration to theUnited Kingdom gave rise to multicultural policies. However, a report from theUniversity of York in 2010 stated that since the beginning of the 21st century the UK government moved towards cultural conservatism and the assimilation of minority communities.[40] Opposition has grown to multicultural government policies, with some viewing it as a costly failure. After the7 July 2005 London bombings, theConservative politicianDavid Davis called such policies "outdated".[41]
Ed West argues that the British establishment had blindly embraced multiculturalism without proper consideration of the downsides of ethnic diversity.[42] According to cultural conservatives, while minority cultures are allowed to remain distinct, traditional British culture is abhorred for being exclusive and adapts to accommodate minorities, often without the consent of the local population.[43]
A prominent criticism by cultural conservatives in theUnited States is that multiculturalism undermines national unity, hinders social integration, and leads to the fragmentation of society.[44]Samuel P. Huntington described multiculturalism as an anti-Western ideology that attacked the United States' inclusion in Western civilization, denied the existence of a common American culture, and promoted ethnic identities over national ones.[45]
Discussions to do with the conservation of American culture often involve definitional disputes. Some consider the United States as a nation of immigrants or "melting pot," others (such asDavid Hackett Fischer) argue thatBritish immigrant cultures are responsible for the development of modern American culture and values. American cultural conservatives often claim that the culture is at risk due primarily to demographic change from immigration, as well as the influence of academia, which has produced increasingly left-wing alumni over time.[46]Dinesh D'Souza argues that multiculturalism in American universities undermines themoral universalism that education once stood for. In particular, he criticized the growth of ethnic studies programs.[47]
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