Multiculturalism vs interculturalism: new paradigm? (Sociologic and juridical aspects of the debate between the two paradigms)

This paper retraces the debate between the main scholars of the multicultural approach and those of the intercultural approach, recently developed in the United Kingdom. After emphasizing the peculiari-ties and the criticism of multiculturalism, concerning the recognition of diversities and the inclusion of foreigners, the comparison of such model with the actual challenges faced by the United Kingdom, marked by the dynamicity and differentiation of the ethnic minori-ties, leads to consider some of the intercultural theses as a better approach for representing and reacting to the ethnic and religious diver-sities. Finally, the applicability of inter culturalism was tested on the case study of Quebec.