“Multicultural” refers to the processes of multiple cultures coexisting within a society, including conflict; negotiation and distribution of social, political and economic power; assimilation, maintenance/preservation; adaptation; hybridization and innovation. The “ism” in multiculturalism implies the perspective that the integrity of individual cultures should be maintained even as they adapt to the larger society. 

The -ism in “multiculturalism” implies a belief that the integrity of each culture should be maintained even as it adapts to the larger society. In contrast to the utopia of a diverse and completely harmonious society, Blink believes that multiculturalism is messy: there will be disagreement, misunderstanding, offense and discomfort. In fact, conflict is the very hallmark of authentic multiculturalism. As sulfur indicates the health of a marshland, so conflict signifies the health of a society.

In contrast to the utopia of a diverse and completely harmonious society, Blink believes that multiculturalism is messy: there will be disagreement, misunderstanding, offense and discomfort for the simple reason that cultures in a multicultural society are not socially and politically equal. A social justice-oriented multiculturalism acknowledges that co-existence does not guarantee an equal or just distribution of power across cultures, and strives to create more equitable access to societal resources and opportunities.

While authentic multiculturalism will always involve conflict, how conflict is handled and resolved in a society is critical: if diversity is not truly valued, then eventually the multiculture will become a monoculture. While all multicultural societies have norms in which members must become fluent in order to cohere as a community, a healthy multicultural society balances the need for some degree of assimilation with an openness to its own transformation.