The concept of multiculturalism: contemporary interpretation

Abstract

In this article the author presents the modern interpretation of the concept of «multiculturalism». In particular, theoretical generalizations of representatives of American, Canadian, Australian, European and Russian social science are considered. Attention is focused on two dominant conceptual approaches where the first deals with the nature of multiculturalism in line with constructivist understanding of culture, and the second criticizes multiculturalism as a form of cultural expansion, formed in the era of globalization, or as an expression of cosmopolitan outlook.