The dissertation reviews, structures and systematizes the features and consequences of the phenomenon and politics of multiculturalism in the UK/Great Britain, in particular at the background of the European experience of multiculturalism and other approaches to the management cultural diversity. This is reflected in the process and results of solving the research tasks, in particular: to characterize theoretical, methodological and historiographical parameters of selection, definition, conceptualization, research and subject area of the concept (theory), politics (practice) and in general the theme of multiculturalism in the world, in Europe and, in particular, in Great Britain; to analyze the evolution, attributes, determinants and limits of the formation, periodization and current development of cultural diversity and the theory, politics and practice of multiculturalism in the UK; to identify and put in order political, civic, ethno-national, ideological, identity, migration, racial, religious, educational and other aspects, contexts, manifestations, components, determinants and consequences of the phenomenon and politics of multiculturalism as a mechanism for managing diversity in the UK; to trace and summarize the advantages and disadvantages, consequences and significance of the theory, politics and practice of multiculturalism in the UK and to forecast the risks and prospects of their development and transformation in particular in the form of interculturalism and post-multiculturalism, including at the background of the European experience of diversity management and preparation as well as implementation of «Brexit». Thus the purpose was to identify, analyze, structure and systematize the features of conceptualization, subject area, coverage, evolution, features and determinants of the formation and development, aspects, contexts, manifestations, components and consequences of theory, practice and politics of UK’s multiculturalism.
The dissertation theoretically argues the propositions that: the more multiculturalism develops, the more it is criticized and modified regardless of the specifics of the party-ideological spectrum of a country; the larger the share and population of different types and groups of minorities, the more complex are the problems of multiculturalism as a way to manage cultural diversity. Thus, multiculturalism is a way of integration that can result in success or failure, but which is always aimed at separating certain minority groups and encouraging them by the state, albeit within the search for social unity, solidarity and equality. In view of this, multiculturalism is always aimed at developing certain models of democratic citizenship and constitutionalism, and in general at the ideals of human and civil rights, albeit mainly in a group context. Therefore, multiculturalism is problematic one, when conflicts between different groups (majorities and minorities) over the values and their interpretation cannot be placed within a certain social structure and threaten individual (rather than group) human and civil rights.
Practically it was found out that European and British multiculturalism is not homogeneous and non-alternative one, but is characterized by paradoxicality, adaptability and politicization of theorizing and ordering of cultural diversity, in particular within the theme of immigration and at the junction of interaction with assimilationism, integrationism, cosmopolitanism, secularism and globalism. In addition, multiculturalism in Great Britain and Europe is heterogeneous, multicomponent, polysemous, discursive and necessarily politicized one, but is often understood as a political, social and regulatory adaptation of the state and the titular majority to culturally differentiated minority groups (especially of immigrants), and vice versa, Finally, British multiculturalism is unique and exceptional one in the European context, as it is overly disordered and unsystematized and focuses on different issues depending on the circumstances and the politicization of the context.
The dissertation also observed that the more the theory and politics of multiculturalism is developed and institutionalized in Great Britain, the more they were criticized and transformed at the background of terrorist acts from the beginning of the XXI century, the global financial and economic crisis, the European immigration crisis, «Brexit» and so on. That is why it has been proven that despite the calls for the curtailment of multiculturalism and fixation of its critique and collapse in political discourse, multiculturalism in the UK nominally and legally remains valid. Although multiculturalism continues to be subjected to theoretical, conceptual, political and practical reassessment, renewal, rebalancing, «bleaching» and modification – in line with cohesion, post-multiculturalism, interculturalism and overcoming the dangers of politicization of Islam.
