Multiculturalism has become the official policy in many Western states and represents a liberal democratic attempt to promote ethnic and racial equality. It is based on the idea of displaying tolerance towards a range of cultural practices within the contexts of the nation-state. As a policy approach, it has been influential in educational and cultural spheres where it has underpinned attempts to introduce people to a range of different beliefs, values, customs and cultural practices. For example, the teaching of multi-faith religious education, the performance of rituals and the promotion of ethnic food became facets of educational policy. While multiculturalism as a strategy has much to offer, some critics argue that the process of relativizing cultures can, in the context of institutionally racist social orders, overlook the dimension of power. That is, the day-to-day experiences of racism in relation to housing, employment and physical violence may slip from view. Thus, critics of multiculturalism argue that we would be better served by an anti-racist approach that highlights the operations of power and challenges the ideological and structural practices that constitute racist societies.