Diversity and Citizenship Education in Multicultural Nations∗

Abstract Immigration is increasing racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistics, and religious diversity in nations around the world, which is challenging existing concepts of citizenship and citizenship education. In this article, I argue that nation-states need to construct novel ideas about citizenship and citizenship education that accommodate new population groups but also foster national unity. Multicultural nation-states need to balance unity and diversity. I describe the challenges to citizenship caused by diversity and argue that citizenship education should be transformed and help students to develop reflective cultural, national, and global identifications and a commitment to take civic action that will make their communities, nation, and the world more democratic and cosmopolitan.