Cultural pluralism:-

It is a concept that says that individual ethnic groups have a right to exist on their own terms within the larger society while retaining their unique cultural heritages.

Significance:- 

As a concept cultural pluralism is an alternative to the “melting pot” view that immigrants should assimilate to dominant culture by abandoning their own cultures, languages, and other traditions. Cultural pluralism is often confused with Multiculturalism. Multiculturalism lacks the requirement of a dominant culture.

Critiques of Cultural Pluralism:-

Cultural pluralism has been attacked for justifying cultural separatism—that is, a transformation to a “nation of nations” similar to what is found in Switzerland or a segregated America of ethnically pure residential enclaves. 

A second critique is that cultural pluralists assume that because ethnic traditions are static they suppress individuality. 

Third, cultural pluralists are attacked for a belief that ethnic identity is primary and thus more powerful than other identities. 

Anti-Critic:-

Cultural pluralists respond that cultural pluralism thrives in an integrated, not a segregated, society. They accept cultures as internally dynamic, changing and adapting over time with plenty of room for diversity inside each culture. Cultural attachments are seen as important but not exclusive.