Is multiculturalism the cornerstone of Australia’s modern identity, or a Canadian import reflecting a society that was always more divided than our own?

On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks to Henry Ergas about the history of multiculturalism and how it may have contributed to the gradual breakdown of Australia’s social cohesion. This wide-ranging discussion explores the limits of liberalism, toleration and acculturation, and what we can do to right our present course.

Henry Ergas AO is an Australian economist, public policy expert, and columnist with The Australian. He spent more than a decade at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, and has held academic appointments at institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Monash University, National University of Singapore, and the University of Wollongong, where he was Professor of Infrastructure Economics. His columns explore economics, politics, and public policy, and increasingly Australian history and national identity; free speech and universities; religion, philosophy, and Western intellectual traditions; and cultural and political debates surrounding multiculturalism and civic values.