Why Multi-Culturalism is good - An Open Letter to Poland
(Francesco Perilli's Monument to Multiculturalism)
After the appalling terror attacks in Nice, it was not long before the national-conservative PiS (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, Law and Justice)-led government in Poland reacted in an aggressive and attacking way. Sadly, this is not new. The political elite has been well known to be very critical towards the EU’s plans to distribute refugees across its member states. Concerns of Muslim refugees being resettled to Poland have been opposed widely, both in politics as well as in the society. Now, again, Poland’s Vice Prime Minister Piotr Glinski blamed “naïve multi-culturalism” as being responsible for the death of dozens of people, killed by a single attacker, driving a truck into a crowd, which had gathered on the promenade to watch the French National Day celebrations. Minister of Internal Affairs, Mariusz Blaszczak, followed suit shortly afterwards, stating the current Polish government would not repeat the mistakes of the “West”. He also applauded his government for a strict course in migrant policy, claiming that had the predecessor-government had stayed in power, thousands of migrants from the Middle East would now be amongst us; his government however would not risk the safety of Poles.
Already during the election campaigns prior to last November’s parliamentary elections, the PiS’ political elite attracted international attention with its anti-refugee rhetoric: Jarosław Kaczyński warned of “Sharia-zones”, after the then-government agreed to take in 7000 Syrian refugees. He later continued to claim there are “signs of the emergence of very dangerous diseases which haven’t been seen in Europe for a long time: cholera on Greek islands; dysentery in Vienna; various types of parasite, protozoas, which aren’t dangerous in the organisms of these people [Middle East refugees], but which could be dangerous here.” After PiS took over power from Platforma Obywatelska (PO, Civic Platform), Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski demanded that Syrian refugees in Europe should form an army and return to Syria to liberate their country, rather than having to send European soldiers there.
Racism and particularly islamophobia is wide-spread in Poland’s society, even among the young generation that grew up in a border-free, and multi-cultural Europe. (Read more here) Despite only a small presence of Muslims in Poland nowadays, as well as the wide-spread aversion against the faith, Islam has been a part of Polish culture since the 14th century, when Tartars began settling on Polish territory, while continuously practicing their beliefs. Throughout the centuries, the Tartars took an active part in Polish society, all of them completing military service, even establishing own regiments, with the Polish Army having its own Chief Imam. A Muslim religious association was founded in 1917, restored after its resolution during the Second World War and post-war times in 1971, and joined by the 1991 established Society of Muslims in Poland. Besides the Tartaric part of Polish history, during communist times, several students from allied countries in the Middle East and Africa came and settled in Poland, adding their religious and cultural beliefs to the society they then grew a part of.
In 2015, the Polish Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) published a study, surveying Poles on their opinion on Muslims and Islam. In general, 44% of Poles have a negative attitude towards Muslims. 64% supported the statement that Muslims are intolerant of customs and values other than their own, and 63% agreed with “Muslims living in Western European countries generally do not acquire customs and values that are characteristic for the majority of the population of that country.” More than half of the interviewed Poles think “Islam encourages violence more than other religions”. However, almost 50% of respondents agreed with the statement “Poverty and poor education contribute more to fundamentalism and terrorism than the religious rules of Islam”, as well as “A majority of Muslims condemn terrorist attacks carried out by Muslim fundamentalists.”
An estimated 20,000 Muslims are currently living in Poland, which is 0.1% of the total population, with the Pew Research centre even projecting a decrease until 2030. The fact is that Poland is the most homogenous country of the European Union. Only 0.3% of its population are foreigners, resulting in many Poles not having any interaction with non-Poles, and having little to no contact with Muslims; very contrary to countries such as Germany or Canada, which are known for their multi-cultural societies.
The Oxford Dictionary describes multi-culturalism as
"The presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society."
Multi-culturalism allows the co-existence of different cultures, all creating the unique character of a society. It is about hosting different characteristics in parallel, integrating values and beliefs to a greater one by accepting a present framework of values and contributing new aspects to it; contrary to assimilation, which often results in losing significant, distinct aspects, which could enrichen and broaden not only a culture but a society.
Online user Chris Bast has summarised it perfectly in his answer to a forum discussion on arguments in favour of and against multi-culturalism. He writes
“Good multiculturalism combines the best aspects of the majority and the minority cultures into a superior synthesis of both. Bad multiculturalism results in Balkanization.”
Some European leaders, among them Chancellor Merkel and former Prime Minister Cameron, have declared multi-culturalism to have failed. LSE professor Alan Manning proved them wrong in his research he undertook in Britain [pre-Brexit] (see here), however he does admit in one regard that multi-culturalism has indeed failed: “it has paid too little attention to how to sustain support among parts of the white population who are skeptical about the ability to retain a minority ethnic or religious identity while being British and who perceive conflict over resources (especially access to social housing) with immigrants and ethnic minorities.”
Multi-culturalism can create tolerance and acceptance towards the unknown, and usually it is the unknown that scares people, and makes them judge the unfamiliar, and consequently turning to the more familiar. Especially in a homogenous society, such as the Polish one, establishing multi-culturalism will be a long process, and a particularly difficult one. However, the advantages and positive impacts should be worth trying. Different cultures and religions, different values and principles can enrich a culture, and in the long-term, a society. Instead of advocating discrimination, xenophobia and hatred, people need to work together to make the world a more peaceful place by accepting, and more importantly respecting, others as they are, and for what they believe in.
Consequently, education is the most important tool. According to Alan Manning it can help overcome “differences in perception and a lack of mutual understanding”. It can recognise the fears and concerns but at the same time inform and counter wrongful information.
Nevertheless, small, hopeful steps are being taken – the powerful Catholic Church of Poland is said to introduce ‘humanitarian corridors', enabling Syrian refugees “in need” (e.g. single-raising mothers and their children, victims of human trafficking, war-wounded, and old or disabled people) to come to Poland due to humanitarian reasons. This will allow them to circumvent the strict EU entry requirements. The Polish Caritas and the state would cover travel, accommodation, and integration measures.
In strong-catholic Poland the church has the power to influence and to change minds. Maybe even beyond the powerful government. After all, this might resemble the long-needed first step into a right direction for Poland.
Photo Credit: FlickR User Shaun Merritt
The picture shows Francesco Perilli's Monument to Multiculturalism
