Pluralist Thinking in Cities
All societies are plural but no two societies experience plurality in exactly the same way, especially when it comes to pluralist practice and policy. In the context of a research project on intercultural relations in the urban context of Montreal, we have identified three different orientations or approaches to pluralist thought and practice : the recognition of diversity, the fight against discrimination and rapprochement through dialogue. Using these categories, I propose an analytical model that makes it possible to understand tensions between various social actors involved in the promotion of intercultural policies and programs in Montreal. I begin by using this model to analyze the funding of intercultural projects at the municipal level. Then I explore how these tensions play out in the context of collaborative efforts between researchers, community-based organizers and city planners. Finally, I discuss the notions complementarity and explicitation in order to show how a pluralist analysis can facilitate communication and reinforce pluralist approaches more generally.