West Liberty University professor has returned from presenting a paper to an international gathering of scholars and government officials in Lublin, Poland. In his paper, “Diversity within United States’ Culture and Politics,” Thomas A. Michaud, dean of WLU’s School of Professional Studies, critiqued progressive views of diversity and cultural pluralism. He told attendees at the Xth International Congress on the Future of Western Civilization that these progressive views are the driving ideologies for much of the current approaches to immigration in the United States.
After discussing the intellectual history of progressivism, including what he termed a shift from the “melting pot” to “mosaic” model of American identity, Michaud commented that issues of social entitlements, multiculturalism and “global citizenship” all are tied to that current model.
The theme of the conference, held under the auspices of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, was “Immigration and Civilization.” Several European and North American countries were represented. Michaud said that Polish scholars and officials at the congress expressed concern that people emigrating from their nation in search of better economic opportunities might not be able to sustain their Polish roots in more culturally diverse countries like the U.S. Hundreds of thousands Poles reportedly have relocated to English-speaking nations, including the U.S., Canada and Ireland. Conference attendees questioned whether the Polish government and its educational institutions should get involved in helping those workers preserve their cultural identities.
Michaud observed that Poles also are concerned about preserving their culture within the European Economic Union. They fear the EEU has a homogenizing effect on nations, blurring and diluting their unique cultural identities. Unlike many European nations, Poland has declined to adopt the single currency (Euro) of the EEU, continuing to use its own currency, the zloty.
This marks the fourth time Michaud has been asked to present at the annual congress, now in its tenth year. The themes of the previous meetings at which he presented papers were politics and religion, justice, and terrorism. This year’s paper will be included in a book published by congress organizers.
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