Multiculturalism and Acculturation in the Multicultural Context of Luxembourg

Even within a globalizing world, Luxembourg takes an exceptional position with a foreign population of 43%, which rises to 66% in the capital, where cultural diversity is used in external branding (Multiplicity). The present series of studies form part of a work in progress aimed at enhancing the understanding of multiculturalism and the management of cultural diversity. Starting point is a society that can be described as multicultural in a demographic sense, offering ample opportunity for second culture exposure. How is this opportunity for culture-contact experienced by its various resident groups? In a series of quantitative studies we examined the endorsement of multiculturalism, which is the acceptance of the plural composition of societies, by various Luxembourg resident groups, who differ by length of stay in Luxembourg: native Luxembourgers, those who have lived there for a few generations and sojourners. Within these groups we differentiated between mono-cultural and bi- or multicultural individuals. Broadly defined, multicultural individuals have internalized more than one culture. We determined the respective in-group, assessed the strength of in-group identification, between group contacts and the perception of the cultural distance between groups. At trait level we tested the relationship between Schwartz Values structures and the endorsement of multiculturalism. Findings are discussed with respect to acculturation processes in multicultural societies.