Multiethnic society
Encyclopedia
A multiethnic society is one with members belonging to more than one ethnic group
, in contrast to societies which are ethnically homogenous. In practice, virtually all contemporary national societies are multiethnic. One scholar argued in 1993 that fewer than 20 of the then 180 sovereign states could be said to be ethnically and nationally homogenous, where a homogenous state was defined as one in which minorities made up less than five per cent of the population. Sujit Choudhry therefore argues that, "[t]he age of the ethnoculturally homogeneous state, if ever there was one, is over".
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, in contrast to societies which are ethnically homogenous. In practice, virtually all contemporary national societies are multiethnic. One scholar argued in 1993 that fewer than 20 of the then 180 sovereign states could be said to be ethnically and nationally homogenous, where a homogenous state was defined as one in which minorities made up less than five per cent of the population. Sujit Choudhry therefore argues that, "[t]he age of the ethnoculturally homogeneous state, if ever there was one, is over".