Immigration has played a central role in nation-building in Australia. Since 1945, over 5 million settlers have come from many different countries, leading to a situation of great cultural diversity. State involvement in the management of settlement and ethnic relations has always been pronounced. Over the last twenty years, a policy of multiculturalism has emerged, giving rise to several special institutions. This has had profound effects both on social policy and on concepts of national identity. The relevance of the Australian model for Western Europe is discussed. The article concludes that it can provide useful impulses, though not ready-made answers:
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