On Nov. 16, 2015, Professor GUO Shibao from the University of Calgary, Canada delivered a lecture entitled “Revisiting Canada’s Multiculturalism: Theory, Policy and Discussion” for the IICE’s International Education Podium. The lecture was chaired by IICE Professor LIU Baocun and attended by teachers and Master’s and PhD students.

Professor GUO is also President of the Canadian Ethnic Studies Association, member of the Expert Advisory Committee of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of China, and Co-Editor of Canadian Ethnic Studies. He is Past President of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education. His research interests include comparative and international education, adult education and community development, and multicultural education. He is also author of over ten books.

Professor GUO began by discussing the conflict between British and French culture as it relates to the history of immigration in Canada and by introducing the origin of multiculturalism in Canada. Then he talked about how multiculturalism became the basis of legislation in the country. Next, he introduced three stages of the development of multiculturalism. He noted that, in the first stage, the country encouraged minority ethnic groups to form their own organizations and learn their own language. In the second stage, the country switched its focus from cultural development to anti-racism. In the third stage, the country incorporated religion into the discussion of multiculturalism.

Professor GUO then discussed six dimensions of the development of multiculturalism: multiculturalism as a reality, national policy, ideology, and practice; the existence of multiculturalism in real life; and criticism of multiculturalism. The lecture was followed by his explanation of the debate surrounding multiculturalism in academia and his reflections on its future development, during which he advocated for the establishment of a “super-multiculturalism mechanism.”

Finally, Professor GUO had further exchange with all the students and teachers on the theoretical development and adaptability of multiculturalism in different countries. Professor LIU made a short summary of the lecture.