ABSTRACT
The idea of multiculturalism should lead to a consideration of its political, sociological and ethical aspects. It assesses the viability and consequences of multiculturalism taking into account the historical and contemporary evidence available to date. The great issue of our time in Britain is the continuing erosion of sovereignty and national identity brought about by the failure of immigration control, separatist multiculturalism, the devolution of Scotland, Wales, and Ulster, the escalation of political Europeanisation, and the United Nations. Multiculturalism may be a well-intentioned response to the cultural diversities and differences that already exist in some states, or be seen as unavoidable in other still essentially homogeneous nation-states due to mass migration. The literature on multiculturalism and toleration is either realistic or philosophically idealistic, and a sharp division is often exhibited between them. Multiculturalism is a confused ideology and a potential threat because, if unregulated, it could lead to major social dissent and political instability.
