Cultural diversity in public organizations presents a big challenge to public servants who may not be familiar with the concept of multiculturalism. Public servants serve people from different cultures and it is therefore important for them to fully understand how to deal with the issue of ethnic diversity (Steinberg, 2009).
Cultural diversity can be explained in either demographic or descriptive terms. Each public place has a different demographic make-up that the civil servants need to understand. Cultural diversity can also be described in a normative way where the issue of ideological differences is tackled (Steinberg, 2009). People from different cultural backgrounds have different ideologies based on religion and ethnicity. Multiculturalism and diversity are the key aspects of public administration that will be highlighted in this paper. Future trends in multiculturalism and diversity are likely to improve public administration.
The future of public administration entirely depends on multiculturalism. Public administrators have integrated multiculturalism and diversity in their work in order to offer the best services to the public without ant kind of discrimination and prejudice (Lott, 2009). Minorities and immigrants in many countries around the world have been encountering a lot of discrimination when it comes to receiving services in public offices.
Many countries are now developing new policies that will ensure that immigrants and minorities are not discriminated in any way by public administrators (Lott, 2009). Public administrators have to ensure that all the laws and regulations that protect the minorities and immigrants from facing any kind of discrimination in public institutions and services. The multiculturalism policy has enhanced social, economic and political integration (Applebaum, 2002). Balkanization can be avoided in the future if everyone is able to enjoy their shared rights.
The other future trend in multiculturalism and diversity is the inclusion of religion in multiculturalism (Applebaum, 2002). The possibility of including religious diversity in multiculturalism is yet to be discussed and explored because it is still a very controversial domain of multiculturalism. The legislative framework in many countries recognizes the need to bring religion into multiculturalism but this trend has not been applied to the fullest by current public administrators (Holzer, 2011). Public servants should be given the necessary support in ensuring that the multiculturalism policy is fully implemented.
The idea of including religion in multiculturalism has always raised a lot of debates and therefore public administrators should be trained on how to manage the debates that this policy raises (Holzer, 2011). Every society has people from different religious affiliations who should not be discriminated in any way when it comes to receiving pubic services. The application of this kind of policy in public administration depends on the government’s commitment (Sharma, 2006).
The media has a special role to play when it comes to enhancing multiculturalism and diversity. The media has been used in the past to propagate religious animosity which in turn undermines multiculturalism (Sharma, 2006). Journalists are required to report responsively without giving any hint of hate speech.
In the future, multiculturalism will play a critical role in ensuring that very person in the society gets equal economic opportunities without any religious, ideological and ethnic discrimination (Sharma, 2006). There has been a lot of discrimination from public administrators when it comes to professional accreditation and employee selection. The multiculturalism policies that guard against discrimination when it comes to economic opportunities will set a benchmark for all public servants who deal with recruitment (Lott, 2009).
Multiculturalism still faces some hostility in different countries across the world. Social and constitutional policies are the only remedy to all kinds of discrimination (Sharma, 2006). The future trends in multiculturalism and diversity have given rise to some resistance from those opposed to the idea. Public administrators should be enlightened on the benefits of multiculturalism in public service for them to erase the imagined failures from their minds (Holzer, 2011).
The idea of harmonizing multiculturalism and equality is a likely future trend. There is a very thin line between multiculturalism and equality. All the negative rhetoric about multiculturalism and diversity will be a thing of the past because of the tough laws that guard against discrimination that are likely to be put in place (Holzer, 2011). Public administrators are the only people who can help in ending social, cultural, religious, ideological and economic discrimination in all public institutions and offices (Sharma, 2006).
Public servants are the pillars of every government and should therefore conduct themselves in a proper way when serving people (Lott, 2009). There are certain considerations that public administrators should embrace for them meet to public expectations. Public administrators should embrace civilization and do away with past practices that encouraged discrimination and inequality. The administrative system of any government can only function smoothly if the civil servants are at the forefront in ensuring that all the policies regarding multiculturalism and diversity are fully implemented.
Civil servants should be conversant with current affairs and at the same time encourage impartial thinking (Lott, 2009). Public administrators should embrace tolerance and accommodation which are critical aspects in their careers as civil servants. Public administrators should tolerate cultural and ideological diversity in the course of their duty to ensure that every person is accommodated (Holzer, 2011).
Civil servants should embrace a sense of responsibility and compassion when serving members of the public. Public servants should consider the divergent needs of various groups in the society before implementing policies and projects (Holzer, 2011).
Social responsibility is an important aspect of public administration that all public servants should embrace (Sharma, 2006). Social responsibility entails providing services to the community that benefit everyone. Any kind of discrimination is bound to polarize the society and in the process tainting the image of public servants. Public servants should be ready to serve people whenever they are called upon (Sharma, 2006).
Public administrators should take immediate action incase of an issue of public interest that needs to be addressed. Public administrators should uphold integrity in the course of their duty (Sharma, 2006). Their personality and appearance should command respect from the public. Public administrators should adhere to professional ethics and always be ready to interact freely with every person in a professional manner. Patience is also vital when it comes to public administration because it portrays wisdom (Holzer, 2011).
In conclusion, multiculturalism and diversity in public administration is a very critical issue and should not be ignored in any way. Religious and ideological diversity has led to many debates concerning the role of multiculturalism in public service (Steinberg, 2009). The future trends in multiculturalism and diversity have given hope to those who have been facing discrimination due to their religion, ethnicity and ideological stand. Many countries have developed public administration polices meant to guard against discrimination and inequality in public service (Holzer, 2011). Public servants should embrace patience, tolerance and a sense of responsibility in the course of their duty.
References
Applebaum, P. (2002). Multicultural and diversity education: A reference handbook. London: ABC-CLIO.
Holzer, M. (2011). Public administration: An introduction. London: M.E Sharpe.
Lott, B. (2009). Multiculturalism and diversity: A social psychological perspective. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Sharma, U. (2006). Public administration. New York, NY: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors.
Steinberg, S. (2009). Diversity and multiculturalism: A reader. London: Peter Lang.