Which policies, often involving outright suppression of the identities of ethnic, religious or linguistic groups, try to erode the cultural differences between groups?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Policies of assimilation
Option (1) Policies of integration — Incorrect. Policies of integration remove cultural differences only from public and political life. They still allow these differences in the private domain, so they do not rest on outright suppression of identities.
Option (2) Policies of centralisation — Incorrect. Centralising all power in forums where the dominant group is a majority is one step used by these strategies. It is about where power sits in the state and does not by itself erode cultural differences.
Option (3) Policies of secularism — Incorrect. Secularism concerns how the state relates to religion. It asks the state to treat all religions with equal respect, so it is no policy for wiping out group identities.
Option (4) Policies of assimilation — Correct. Policies of assimilation try to erode the cultural differences between groups. They often do this by openly suppressing the identities of ethnic, religious or linguistic groups.
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