The imperative to move from multiculturalism to cosmopolitanism in public policy is part of an ongoing debate in academia and it was the central theme in a recent review report of the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture in Melbourne.

This week, the issue will be addressed by Professor of Sociology Andrew Jakubowicz from the University of Technology Sydney, in a free public lecture at the Greek Centre.

Professor Jakubowicz will reflect on 100 years of Greek political engagement with Australian cultural diversity from the Greek immigrant experience of Anglo-Australian terrorism in the 1920s, through to the creation of multiculturalism to the contemporary era of diversity.

He will also look at the struggle that was faced a decade into multiculturalism over its survival in the face of an attack from cosmopolitanists, while exploring the key role of three Greek practical intellectuals, assessing their long-term impact.

Professor Jakubowicz has written extensively on multiculturalism, politics and media. He runs the interactive website ‘Making Multicultural Australia’ and has also contributed to many documentaries, including Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta and The Great Australian Race Riot. His most recent book with colleagues is Cyber Racism and Community Resilience.

Made possible by the Research Unit in Public Cultures (RUPC) and the Centre of Visual Art (CoVA), the lecture will coincide with the launch of two reports from RUPC: ‘Multiculturalism and Governance: Evaluating Arts Policies and Engaging Cultural Citizenship’ (2018) and ‘From Ethnic Enclave to Cosmopolitan Cultures: Evaluating the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture in the City of Melbourne’ (2018).

‘Greeks and the politics of Australian cosmopolitanism’ will take place at the Greek Centre (Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, VIC) on Wednesday 17 October at 7.00 pm. Attendance free. Bookings requested for catering purposes. RSVP by Tuesday 16 October to rupc-info@unimelb.edu.au