Çokkültürlü Bir Toplumda Antropolojinin Önemi
The Significance of Anthropology in a Multicultural Society

Summary/Abstract: Multiculturalism has been both widely debated and implemented as a policy since 1970s especially in America and Europe. In these debates, negative aspect as well as positive aspect of multiculturalism is underlined. Especially in recent years, it is argued that multicultural policies foster “micronationalisms” and it leads to bloody separations and disintegrations. However, apart from multicultural policies which is subjected to positive and negative criticisms, there is also a reality of multiculturalism (multicultural diversity) in the anthropological sense. As anthropological studies indicate, many countries some of which are nation-states are “inherently” multicultural because of historical, geographical, ethnic, religious and generally cultural reasons. In case that existence of different ethnic, religious and linguistic groups is not recognized in a country, there would be great problems including conflicts among different cultural groups in the country or conflicts between cultural groups the existence of which is not recognized and the state. States’ approving of multiculturalism in themselves or multicultural diversity in the anthropological sense and transmitting it to society via education can be considered as a crucial step in the way leading to solution. Apart from debates of western multiculturalism and multicultural education policies, a multicultural education can be adopted in a country in terms of recognizing different cultures and respecting differences, and in this sense modern anthropological approach, which emphasizes that no culture is “superior” or “inferior” to another, can be used. Another way of recognizing and presenting different cultures is to teach anthropology at schools from secondary school to higher education. Individuals taking this class would have the chance to know different cultures and they would consider cultural differences as natural and respect all different cultures. In this sense, teaching anthropology as a class in schools in Turkey, which has a multicultural structure, would help individuals to know cultures in both Turkey and the world and moreover would contribute to the establishment of social peace in the long run.

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