TY - JOUR
T1 - South Australia's quiet multiculturalism
T2 - Elite perspectives of the policy success of immigrant multiculturalism from 2007 to 2017
AU - Ridley, Adam
AU - Manwaring, Rob
AU - Ziersch, Anna
PY - 2022/9
Y1 - 2022/9
N2 - Despite the long-standing connection between South Australia and the national development of immigrant multiculturalism, epitomised through the role of Premier Don Dunstan, recent policy developments have not yet been studied at the state level. This article evaluates the development and ‘policy success’ of multiculturalism in South Australia from 2007 to 2017, a period characterised by the so-called ‘backlash against multiculturalism’ in many liberal democracies. The study is based on interviews with policymakers and policy stakeholders, triangulated against policy documentation and other grey literature. Overall, policy efforts by successive state governments can be characterised as ‘quiet multiculturalism’, in that they have become entrenched as the political norm. Multiculturalism tends not to be politically contentious, leaving policymakers to implement policies without much fanfare. At the same time though, there is a risk of fragility. Deeper structural barriers to equal opportunity may be overlooked due to an attitude that existing policies promoting ‘access and equity’ are sufficient or can be scaled down.
AB - Despite the long-standing connection between South Australia and the national development of immigrant multiculturalism, epitomised through the role of Premier Don Dunstan, recent policy developments have not yet been studied at the state level. This article evaluates the development and ‘policy success’ of multiculturalism in South Australia from 2007 to 2017, a period characterised by the so-called ‘backlash against multiculturalism’ in many liberal democracies. The study is based on interviews with policymakers and policy stakeholders, triangulated against policy documentation and other grey literature. Overall, policy efforts by successive state governments can be characterised as ‘quiet multiculturalism’, in that they have become entrenched as the political norm. Multiculturalism tends not to be politically contentious, leaving policymakers to implement policies without much fanfare. At the same time though, there is a risk of fragility. Deeper structural barriers to equal opportunity may be overlooked due to an attitude that existing policies promoting ‘access and equity’ are sufficient or can be scaled down.
KW - multiculturalism
KW - South Australia
KW - policy success
KW - access and equity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122872315&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1467-8500.12533
DO - 10.1111/1467-8500.12533
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85122872315
SN - 0313-6647
VL - 81
SP - 419
EP - 435
JO - Australian Journal of Public Administration
JF - Australian Journal of Public Administration
IS - 3
ER -