E pluribus unum or E pluribus plura? Unity and Diversity in American Culture: European Views of the United States

Abstract

E pluribus unum or E pluribus plura? Unity and Diversity in American Culture* examines the tension between unity and diversity in U.S. society. Contributors argue that 'E pluribus unum' (out of many, one) has evolved to reflect shifts in national identity, particularly regarding inclusion and exclusion, while 'E pluribus plura' (out of many, many) highlights challenges of pluralism and marginalization. The review critically assesses key chapters by Gert Buelens and Eliane Elmaleh. Buelens demonstrates how unity has been reconstructed to incorporate diversity and address historical traumas like slavery, while Elmaleh explores artistic subversion of national symbols to expose systemic injustice. The book adopts a constructivist perspective, viewing unity and diversity as socially constructed concepts shaped by history, power dynamics, and cultural expressions.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)