Master thesis | Theology and Religious Studies (Master)
open access
Just after the beginning of the twenty-first century, the statement that ‘multiculturalism in the Netherlands has failed’ seems common. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not...Show moreJust after the beginning of the twenty-first century, the statement that ‘multiculturalism in the Netherlands has failed’ seems common. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not the Dutch ‘multicultural society’ has failed, according to John W. Berry’s concept of multiculturalism. In the first chapter of this literature study, theories of acculturation are explained and John W. Berry’s concept of bi-dimensional acculturation is formulated. The second chapter shows a historical overview of immigration policy in the Netherlands. In the third chapter, the debate on the multicultural society in the Netherlands is reconstructed through discourse analysis and gives an analysis of the five major arguments for the failure of the multicultural society. In the fourth chapter, a comparison is made of Berry’s theory of bi-dimensional acculturation and the Dutch concept of multiculturalism. The last chapter shows consequences of ineffective acculturation. This study shows that there is multiple explanation of the term ‘multiculturalism’ and that the Dutch government has never declared a multicultural policy of integration. According to Berry’s bi-dimensional model of acculturation, policies of integration in the Netherlands doesn’t seem that multicultural at al.Show less
