UD10-12 - Future Trends in Multicuturalism and Diversity - See Details

1. Communicate the role of cultural awareness and sensitivity in helping public administrators positively respond to future trends in multiculturalism, diversity, and global communities.

2. Apply definitions and practices of multiculturalism relative to public administrative settings to create effective systems of public participation across cultures.

Unit 10 Future Trends

INTRODUCTION

We have covered many different topics related to multiculturalism, public value, and power in our global and diverse societies, and we have analyzed these topics from the perspective of their influence and impact on our roles as public administrators. In the end, what we want to create is a civil society that encourages us to provide the highest levels of public benefit. There are times when what one person might claim as a benefit, another might consider a loss, but we try to be objective and serve the greatest good possible. This final unit examines the trends of and the directions to which we can take our multicultural global society in the coming decades.

There are a few different schools of thought then it comes to defining civil society, and recapping them here is important to our understanding of future trends. The traditionalist approach embraces what we think of traditional American values—self-sufficiency, community, marriage, family, and commitment to country. A communitarian agenda reflects on the rights and responsibilities of a representative democracy and dedication to citizen participation in public decisions. The concept of a free and virtuous civil society, where politics is eliminated and government is small, is the cornerstone of the libertarian interpretation. Finally, the populist agenda is that of citizenship as public work and commitment to broader solutions to public problems. No single approach is "right" or "left," Republican or Democratic, or right or wrong. Incorporating all of them into our positions as problem solvers for the public good, though, is a vital part of our success in a global and diverse society.

OBJECTIVES

To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:

[u10s1] Unit 10 Study 1

STUDIES

 Transcript

Readings

Use DPA8412 Global and Diverse Societies to complete the following:

• In the Kivisto and Faist text, Citizenship: Discourse, Theory, and Transnational Prospects, read Chapter 6, "Future Trends," pages 130–140.

Research

Complete the following research in preparation for this unit's discussions:

• Use the Research library, the Internet, and sources other than your textbooks to locate information on 3 –5 trends in multiculturalism and diversity in a global and diverse society as it relates to the field of public administration. You will use the information you locate in the Future Trends in Multiculturalism and Diversity discussion later in this unit.

Multimedia

Click Closing Thoughts to listen to the multimedia.

• In the last nine weeks, you have been asked to explore historical and contemporary theory and the application of public administration in a global and multicultural context. Take a few moments to review the objectives and competencies you have achieved over this time period.

[u10d1] Unit 10 Discussion 1 

FUTURE TRENDS IN MULTICULTURALISM AND DIVERSITY

The world is changing quickly, and trends in public participation, citizenship, public trust, and public values are evolving just as quickly.

Review the trends in multiculturalism and diversity in a global and diverse society you found in this unit's study. What considerations do public administrators need to take heed of? What implications does this have for your career as a public servant?