THE MULTIETHNIC AND MULTICULTURAL CITY - AN ASIAN PERSPECTIVE

Asian cities with ancient origins and large populations are complex et hnic and cultural mosaics reflecting their national contexts. They ten d to have less ethnic conflict and tension compared to their counterpa rts in other regions of the world. This may arise from their important role in nation-building and the colonial, ideological and socio-econo mic factors that have made them instruments in the formation and maint enance of the nation-state. Conscious of problems arising from ethnic conflicts, Asian governments have pursued policies and bureaucratic fi xes to maintain social harmony and stability. They have used housing p olicy, zoning codes and regulations, language policy and have encourag ed civil society efforts to achieve societal goals, but results have b een mixed. Ethnic concentrations and re-concentrations have spontaneou sly grown despite the use of intervention measures. In the long run, c ontinued penetration by global economic and social forces, the informa tion revolution, political socialization through family, school and ot her social institutions and the forces of urbanization may exert more changes on the ethnic and cultural character of cities than explicitly interventionist measures.