Migration, Integration, and Diversity: A Comparative Study of Interculturalism in Spain, Canada, and Australia

Interculturalism has emerged as a novel approach to diversity policy, variously understood as an alternative or complement to multiculturalism. However, debate continues over what differentiates to two perspectives and what the relationship between could or should be. This paper uses data from an international comparative study of four ‘intercultural cities’ to help clarify these questions. Using findings from four cities in Spain, Canada, and Australia, the paper investigates differences and similarities in how interculturalism has been interpreted and implemented in these national contexts. The findings show that while these nations’ distinct socio-historical and policy-political diversity contexts have shaped the meanings attributed to and policy expressions of the approach, they share elements of a common discursive and practical project: a bi-directional conception of immigrant integration; a transversal methodology; and a mobilising logic. The paper concludes with a brief reflection on implications which can be drawn regarding theoretical “multiculturalism and /interculturalism” debates. It argues that the most important differences between the two approaches are not those that have gained attention in debates, and that prevailing views about the complementarity of the two perspectives do not do justice to the contribution offered by interculturalism.