Abstract
The aim of the chapter is to define the political, educational and theoretical context in which the discourse of multiculturalism appears. At the beginning of the chapter, the multicultural movement is set in a historical context: the genesis of multicultural politics of Canada, Australia is described.
Based on the multicultural education movement, a critical response to the melting pot assimilation policy in the US is shown. Next is the outlined crisis of multiculturalism in European countries and the European Union's efforts to introduce intercultural politics as a new paradigm of the relationship of different social groups.
In the other parts of the chapter the main theories of multiculturalism (community, liberal and critical) are discussed. The conclusion outlines the benefits and weaknesses of multiculturalism for the present.