A post-multicultural mindset? (2017)

This paper describes attitudes towards ethnic diversity and group making behaviour among Brazilians and Portuguese at a Portuguese-cum-multicultural soccer club in Amsterdam. Drawing on six months of ethnographic fieldwork, the author analyses the fine balance between expectations around intercultural mixing and actual mixing. She introduces the concept ‘post-multicultural mindset’ to refer to the dominant discourse at the soccer club. This mindset is formed through national discourses and is characterized by open disapproval of ethnic concentration and a preference for intercultural mixing. The results shows that reasons for joining the club are mostly culturally driven and thus the value of separate grouping practices among Brazilian and Portuguese (post)migrants should not be underestimated. Acceptance of differences and conviviality facilitate an inclusive club culture, but also produce separate ethnic spaces. She argues that members’ multicultural presentation of Forte Portugal provides a socially accepted environment for ethnically concentrated sport participation.