Ethnic Diversity in Malaysia

Paper Summary:

The paper demonstrates how cultural tensions led to almost all of the uprisings in Malaysia throughout history. The paper goes on to show that settling these cultural differences has led to the creation of a collaborative nation-state, one interested in promoting diversity. The paper discusses how today, non-Malay, Malay, Chinese and Islamic symbols are all displayed in public places since the Malay people have accepted the Chinese culture and other cultures existing within Malaysia.

From the Paper:

"Most researchers focusing on the period before 1969 (where riots broke out in Malaysia) and those after the riots note that cultural tensions were often the source of political and economic unrest (Brunnel, 2004). The country's economic status has remained in fact, relatively unchanged during the last three decades (Brunnel, 2004). The cultural landscape has not changed much either, except for the introduction of the Islamic culture as one of society's "norms" (Brunnel, 2004).
"Hock (2000) reviews changing ethnic relations in Malaysia with regard to interactions between "state's policies to advance Malay culture dominance and reduce ethnic economic inequality" and the "aspirations and actions of the Chinese community" (p.1). With regard to political and state-related issues, Freedman (2000) suggests the question of whether ethnic members especially the elite pursue "separatist" or collaborative strategies. Hock suggests the question of whether rival ethnic groups living in Malaysia are relatively equal to each other or unequal in stature (p. 2) is a core issue related to the stability now enjoyed by many people living in Malaysia."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bunnell, Tim. (2004) Malaysia, modernity, and the multimedia super corridor: A critical geography of intelligent landscapes. New York: Routledge Curzon.
• Freedman, Amy. (2000) Political participation and ethnic minorities, London: Routledge.
• Gomez, Edmund T. (2004) The state of Malaysia, New York: Routledge Curzon.
• Guan, Lee Hock. (Aug, 2000) Social and Cultural Issues No. 1(2000): Ethnic relations in peninsular Malaysia: The cultural and economic dimensions. Institute of Southeastern Malaysian Studies, ISSN 0218-8961, Retrieved December 13, 2007: http://www.iseas.edu.sg/sc12000.pdf
• Joseph, Cynthia. (2005) Discourses of Schooling in Contemporary Malaysia: Pedagogical Practices and Ethnic Policies. Australian Journal of Education, 49(1): 28.

More papers on Ethnic Diversity in Malaysia:

• Comparison Essay # 4119 : "Federalism in Four Nations"
• Essay # 116925 : "Portrayal of Diversity in the Media"
• Term Paper # 141903 : "Ethnic Diversity Management in the Workplace"

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