Salad bowl (cultural idea)
Encyclopedia
The salad bowl concept suggests that the integration of the many different cultures of United States
residents combine like a salad, as opposed to the more traditional notion of a cultural melting pot
. In Canada
this concept is more commonly known as the cultural mosaic
. In the salad bowl model, various American cultures are juxtaposed — like salad ingredients — but do not merge together into a single homogeneous culture. Each culture keeps its own distinct qualities. This idea proposes a society of many individual, "pure" cultures, and the term has become more politically correct
than melting pot, since the latter suggests that ethnic groups may be unable to preserve their cultures due to assimilation
.
In Singapore
, the phrase "rojak
society" is sometimes heard, alluding to the tri-cultural past and present of Singapore. "Rojak" is a Malay word meaning mixture and is also used in the names of various Singaporean salads.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
residents combine like a salad, as opposed to the more traditional notion of a cultural melting pot
Melting pot
The melting pot is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture...
. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
this concept is more commonly known as the cultural mosaic
Cultural mosaic
"Cultural mosaic" is a term used to describe the mix of ethnic groups, languages and cultures that co-exist within Canadian society. The idea of a cultural mosaic is intended to champion an ideal of multiculturalism, differently from other systems like the melting pot, which is often used to...
. In the salad bowl model, various American cultures are juxtaposed — like salad ingredients — but do not merge together into a single homogeneous culture. Each culture keeps its own distinct qualities. This idea proposes a society of many individual, "pure" cultures, and the term has become more politically correct
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
than melting pot, since the latter suggests that ethnic groups may be unable to preserve their cultures due to assimilation
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
.
In Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, the phrase "rojak
Rojak
Rojak or Rujak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore...
society" is sometimes heard, alluding to the tri-cultural past and present of Singapore. "Rojak" is a Malay word meaning mixture and is also used in the names of various Singaporean salads.
See also
- Elite theoryElite theoryIn political science and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society. The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power and...
- New institutionalismNew institutionalismNew institutionalism or neoinstitutionalism is a theory that focuses on developing a sociological view of institutions--the way they interact and the way they affect society...
- Legitimation Crisis
- AgonismAgonismAgonism is a political theory that emphasises the potentially positive aspects of certain forms of political conflict. It accepts a permanent place for such conflict, but seeks to show how we might accept and channel this positively. For this reason, agonists are especially concerned to intervene...
- Pluralism (political theory)Pluralism (political theory)Classical pluralism is the view that politics and decision making are located mostly in the framework of government, but that many non-governmental groups use their resources to exert influence. The central question for classical pluralism is how power and influence is distributed in a political...