Professor Fethi Mansouri spoke at a Lowy Institute panel on the role of Australia’s multiculturalism in foreign policy. The panel discussed the role of diversity and diasporas as sources of soft power and engagement. Professor Mansouri spoke about the extent to which Australia’s multiculturalism can enable cultural diplomacy and inform foreign policymaking.
About the panel
Half of all Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas, and Australia is home to more than 250 ancestries and 350 languages. The new Labor government has invoked Australia’s multiculturalism as a part of our national identity in its recent engagement with the region. But what is the role of Australia’s multiculturalism in foreign policy? Are diversity and diasporas a source of soft power and engagement?
Dr Jennifer Hsu, Research Fellow in the Lowy Institute’s Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program, chaired the panel. Guests included:
- Dr Melissa Phillips, Western Sydney University.
- Jason Chai, Cochlear Asia-Pacific
- Professor Fethi Mansouri, UNESCO Chair for Comparative Research on Cultural Diversity and Social Justice
Opening the discussion, Dr Hsu invited Professor Mansouri to explain why multiculturalism is criticised by multicultural communities. Professor Mansouri noted that the definition of multiculturalism itself remains contested. Then he pointed to three fundamental elements that multiculturalism works towards. Firstly, cultural recognition affirms basic cultural identity. Secondly, socio-economic justice and ensuring equitable access to resources. Thirdly, political representation means “every single Australian is able to have a voice in in the making of the national story of the of this nation in state.” Mansouri noted that the failure or criticism of multiculturalism always relates to the third point, although we are making progress.
On the type of leadership that Australia needs to achieve good multicultural policy, Mansouri said,
“I think the more we are comfortable with who we are, the easier it is to…have meaningful conversation…I strongly believe an awareness of where we stand…is absolutely essential for us to have a credible voice.
Many times…especially with my association with the UN and UNESCO, many times when I go overseas…and I speak positively about diversity and multiculturalism in Australia…people stop me and say, hang on, what about Indigenous Australians? What are you guys doing there? How come you still don’t have anything like…recognition in the constitution? Not to mention treaty?..People externally are aware of our own shortcomings.
So, this is leadership: putting our…own house in order is absolutely essential. And this is why we’re all very hopeful that this government might actually do something about constitutional recognition and giving voice to Indigenous communities. Because that will be an absolutely positive signal we send the world externally.”
About the Lowy institute
The Lowy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan international policy think tank located in Sydney, Australia.
