Words Matter
A plain-language glossary for the words that shape public life.
Political Systems & Ideologies
Government structures and political philosophies that shape how power is distributed, who makes decisions, and how authority is justified. These terms are often used loosely. This section pins down their actual meanings and explains how they function in practice.
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the idea that diverse cultural groups can coexist in a shared society while maintaining their identities. It emphasizes inclusion, representation, and equal participation across cultural differences.
Acculturation
Acculturation is the process of adopting elements of another culture while retaining aspects of one’s original identity. It involves selective adaptation, shaped by daily interactions and institutional expectations, and differs from assimilation because it does not require full cultural replacement.
Assimilation
Assimilation is the process through which newcomers adopt the cultural norms and behaviors of a dominant society, often reducing aspects of their original identity. It is a one-directional process, unlike integration, which allows reciprocal adaptation. Assimilation can be voluntary or shaped by social and institutional pressures.
Individualism
Individualism is a value framework that emphasizes personal autonomy, self-reliance, and independent decision-making. It prioritizes the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of individuals over the demands or claims of larger groups. Individualism shapes views about what people owe to themselves, what they owe to others, and the role of institutions in daily life.
Community
Community refers to a group of people connected by shared identity, geography, experience, or purpose. The concept emphasizes interdependence and the idea that individuals are part of larger social networks that shape their opportunities, responsibilities, and sense of belonging. Community describes both the relationships people maintain and the collective frameworks that support them.
Nationalism
The belief that a nation—a group with shared identity, culture, or history—should have political self-determination. It emphasizes loyalty to the nation above other identities. Nationalism can support independence movements, unify societies, or justify exclusion and conflict.