Immigration axis
Assimilationist vs Multiculturalist
Should immigrants blend in, or should cultures live side by side?
A moderate Assimilationist expects immigrants to learn the language and wants secure borders; a strong one wants almost no immigration at all. A moderate Multiculturalist enjoys a mix of cultures; a strong one wants open borders and equal concern for foreign citizens.
Assimilationist
Newcomers should adopt the language and culture of their new country, and immigration should be limited and controlled.
Statements that score Assimilationist
- “Foreigners should never enter the country.”
- “In general, immigrants are bad for the country.”
- “Illegal immigrants should be deported in most or all cases.”
Multiculturalist
Many cultures can live side by side, immigration is a net positive and, at the extreme, borders should be open.
Statements that score Multiculturalist
- “Governments should be as concerned about foreign citizens as they are about those within their borders.”
- “No cultures are superior to others.”
- “We should be taking in more refugees.”
In practice
Where it shows up
It appears in debates about immigration levels and asylum, language requirements for citizenship, integration courses, religious dress in public, and whether minority cultures should get their own schools or holidays.
A common misunderstanding
Assimilationist does not mean anti-immigrant: many who score that way welcome immigrants and simply expect them to adopt the language and customs. Multiculturalist does not automatically mean open borders either.
Reading your score
A moderate score usually means immigration with integration expectations. Above 75% Assimilationist you want a shared national culture and tighter limits; above 75% Multiculturalist you want cultures to live side by side with few conditions.
Historical figures at each end
Where the thinkers and leaders in our figure set stand on this axis.
Assimilationist
Multiculturalist
Result labels
Your score is the percentage toward Assimilationist. The label shown on your result depends on which band it falls in.
- 91-100%Ethnonationalist
- 76-90%Monoculturalist
- 61-75%Assimilationist
- 40-60%Centrist
- 25-39%Polyculturalist
- 10-24%Multiculturalist
- 0-9%Open Borders
Where do you land on immigration?
Take the test to see your score on this axis and the other eleven.
Take the 12 Axes test