FROM MULTICULTURALITY TO THE SUBTLE IDENTITY: A PROPOSAL FOR IDENTITY TRANSFERENCE

Mass migrations of people, particularly into Europe, have always created conflict; however, if they are also taking place in the middle of a profound economic crisis, an atmosphere conducive to xenophobic and racist expression is created. To alleviate this tension, since the end of the past century (and with particular emphasis in the United States, Canada and Japan) a model of coexistence has been implemented – that of multiculturality, which can be loosely translated as “together but not intimately involved”. In spite of its success, this model (which overestimates the exotic nature of immigrants), only deals with current challenges in a limited manner. This article presents a model that suggests the freeing-up of much of the heavy load that any identity entails with the aim of transforming individuals into plural beings, which are open to the transparencies of others’ identities, whether they are native inhabitants or foreigners.