Attitude toward Multiculturalism: Majority in the Minority Perspective

Even within a globalizing world, Luxembourg takes an exceptional position with a foreign population of 44%. In the capital of Luxembourg, home to one-fifth of the country’s population, native members make up only 33% of the population. Outwardly the cosmopolitan diversity is praised, but how does the native population, which finds itself in the minority in its own capital, perceive this increasingly plural composition of society? To investigate this specific “majority-as-minority” perspective, we conducted a quantitative study within a Luxembourg employer (N = 507) with a large native-born workforce. We examined the endorsement of multiculturalism with an adapted version of the Multicultural Ideology Scale and the Societal Participation Subscale of the Multicultural Attitude Scale. We tested the relationships between the endorsement of multiculturalism and demographic variables and different forms of culture contact experiences. The results show that most respondents endorse the idea of a plural society. However, the results also show reluctance towards specific societal participation measures of the allochthonous population. In addition, we found a slight gender effect, with women showing higher endorsement of multiculturalism, but no age effect. Support for multiculturalism is also tied to the educational level achieved. Finally, direct culture contact, operationalized as composition of circle of friends, is also conducive to endorsement of multiculturalism. We discuss the results within an acculturation context, in which majority– minority relationships become increasingly fluid and cultural diversity is positively evaluated and accepted as a norm; conversely, specific behavioral aspects of living together are yet to be aligned