Culture axis: Multicultural vs National identity
This axis is about how a country handles cultural difference. Should it welcome many cultures side by side, or build around one shared national culture, language and set of customs?
14 statements in the test score this axis. Agreeing with some moves you toward Multicultural, with others toward National identity.
What the Culture axis measures
The Culture axis covers immigration levels, refugees, language, border control, national pride and how much newcomers should adopt local customs. Your score runs from -100 (Multicultural) to +100 (National identity).
It is not a measure of how you feel about any group of people. It is about what you think works best for a country. Both ends say they want a society where people get along and trust each other. They disagree on how to get there.
Sample statements
These are real statements from the test. Each one is keyed to this axis, in one direction or the other.
“Immigration from different cultures makes a society stronger.”
“People should have more freedom to live and work in other countries.”
“The government should reduce the number of immigrants allowed into the country.”
“Immigrants should be expected to adopt the customs and values of their new country.”
What the Multicultural end means
People at this end see cultural variety as a strength. Newcomers bring skills, ideas and energy, they say, and a country grows richer when many traditions live side by side. They believe people can keep their own culture and still be loyal citizens who follow the law.
They tend to support welcoming immigration and refugees, services in several languages and active steps against discrimination. Many feel that a person's duty to humanity does not stop at the border.
- They often see newcomers as a source of skills, ideas and energy.
- Many back refugee programs as a moral duty.
- They tend to favor official forms, notices and help in several languages.
- Many feel that loyalty to humanity can sit alongside loyalty to a country.
Who sits at the Multicultural end
- Emma Goldman-70
- Frederick Douglass-70
- Jean-Paul Sartre-70
- Rosa Luxemburg-70
- Desmond Tutu-65
- Eugene V. Debs-65
What the National identity end means
People at this end see a shared culture as the glue of a society. Common language, customs and history build trust, they say, and trust makes it easier to support each other through taxes, public services and hard times. They believe that change that is too fast can wear that glue away.
They tend to support lower immigration, a secure border and the expectation that newcomers learn the language and adopt local customs. Many also value teaching national history with pride, and keeping institutions that give a nation continuity.
- They often feel newcomers should take up the local language and ways of life.
- Many want a lower, more tightly managed level of immigration.
- They tend to favor teaching national history in a way that encourages pride.
- Many value old institutions and ceremonies as links between past and present.
Who sits at the National identity end
- Jean-Marie Le Pen+95
- Enoch Powell+90
- Pat Buchanan+90
- Alfred Deakin+85
- Carl Schmitt+85
- Edmund Barton+85
Scores near the middle
A score near zero often means you want both. You might welcome immigration and also expect newcomers to learn the language, or take pride in your country while respecting other cultures. Many people also separate the issues: open to workers and refugees, but wanting a controlled system.
Common mix-ups
National identity means disliking foreigners. No. Most people at this end simply value shared customs and a stable, well-managed system. Many are immigrants or the children of immigrants themselves.
Multicultural means no shared values. No. People at this end usually still expect everyone to follow the law and respect equal rights. They just think a shared set of civic rules matters more than a shared set of customs.
This axis is the same as the Foreign policy axis. They are different. Culture is about who lives in the country and how they fit in. Foreign policy is about how the country deals with other states, using diplomacy or force.
How it relates to other axes
Trade: Trade is about goods and money crossing borders, while Culture is about people and customs doing so. Someone can welcome free trade but want lower immigration, or the reverse.
Religion: Religion asks about faith in public life. Some people tie a nation's religious heritage to its identity, so the two can move together, but many do not.
FAQ
Is a high National identity score the same as being against immigration?
Not always. Many people at this end support immigration but want it controlled and want newcomers to join in. Others want it lower. The axis covers a range of views.
Is a Multicultural score the same as wanting open borders?
No. It means you see cultural variety as a plus and lean towards welcoming. You can still want rules, checks and limits on who comes in.
Why are immigration and national pride on one axis?
Both come down to the same question: how much should a country hold to one shared culture, and how much should it welcome variety? Answers to these tend to go together.
Does language matter to this axis?
Yes. Whether newcomers should be expected to learn the main language, and whether services should be offered in other languages, are good examples of the trade-off between shared identity and variety.
Where do you sit on Culture?
Take the test