The future of multiculturalist policies in Japan: will Western ideology and social policy work in Asia?

Abstract

How does the position of the West, as the current dominant culture, affect the manner in which Japan creates domestic social policy regarding multiculturalism, immigration and globalization? Can solutions to Japan's future policy decisions be found in traditionally Western ideology? What unique challenges face Japan's society in the future as a disputed ethnically and culturally 'homogenous' society? I will investigate the ideology, characteristics and necessity of multiculturalism and globalization in general (utilizing the Canadian model) in order to question the necessity and suitability of these foreign-born and raised ideologies in Japan. What are current global trends towards multiculturalism, both historical and current, and what lessons can Japan learn from past experiences from Western democracies, as well as from other Asian nations? Should a multicultural society be considered an end-goal for all first-world nations? Multiculturalism and internationalization are often seen as a panacea for Japan's immigration and international relation issues. But can Japan, a nation that relies heavily on notions of ethnic and cultural homogeneity and group centeredness, truly become a successful multicultural nation and withstand globalization? Should domestic necessity be a precondition, both socially and logistically, before experimentation in full scale multiculturalist policy and ideology are attempted?