Migration, Refugees, and IntegrationPolitical Philosophy and EthicsAfrican Sexualities and LGBTQ+ Issues

Srđan M. Jovanović

2026.1.1World Affairs

DOI: 10.1002/waf2.70056

Abstract

This article critically examines the paradox at the heart of contemporary multiculturalism in liberal democracies. While multiculturalism is often championed as a vehicle for diversity and social justice, this paper argues that its current formulation inadvertently facilitates the proliferation of socially conservative and illiberal ideologies, serving as a veiled vehicle for varied Right‐Wing ideologies. These include patriarchal sexuality norms, religious fundamentalism, and anti‐homosexual beliefs that are often imported and preserved within immigrant communities. Through a synthesis of political theory, integration models, and ideological psychology, the article explores how multicultural frameworks (shielded by cultural relativism and liberal tolerance) provide fertile ground for the spread of global Right‐Wing ideologies. Special attention is given to the role of progressive complicity and policy blindness in enabling this ideological drift. The paper concludes with recommendations for a recalibrated model of pluralism that balances cultural inclusion with the defense of liberal democratic values.

Citation format

JOVANOVIĆ, Srđan M. Multiculturalism as a veiled vehicle for global right‐wing ideologies: A theoretical reframing. World Affairs, 2026, 189(1).