Cultures, Multiculturalism and Difference: Some Greek-Australian Initiatives

Abstract

The cultures of Australian multiculturalism are defined as ethnocultures: forms of essentialism that easily become stereotypes. In this paper, I analyze the activities of several Greek Australians who demonstrate the ‘connectedness’ of social relations, of living across difference. Some of the themes discussed here are:the participation of women and the elderly, intercultural activities, studies of institutional racism and of the consequences of multicultural policies. Greek Australians are also prominent in the arts, maintaining a form of ‘conversation’ between generations and ethnocultures. This narrative knowledge increasingly characterizes public discourse reflecting a heterogeneous Australian society. They also raise the possibility of a participatory intercultural democracy.