Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Multiculturalism: Multiculturalism is a societal model that recognizes the importance of cultural diversity and seeks to promote equality and respect for all cultures within a society. See also Culture, Cultural values, Cultural relativism, Calture tradition._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Political Philosophy on Multiculturalism - Dictionary of Arguments
Gaus I 256 Multiculturalism/Political philosophy/Kukathas: Not all theories, (...) have been entirely sympathetic to multiculturalism, particularly when the price of cultural diversity has looked like being acceptance of illiberal or tyrannical practice. Fish: According to Stanley Fish (1998(1): 73—5), no one could genuinely advocate multiculturalism because that would require tolerating all cultures, including those determined to stamp out tolerance. Most multiculturalists are thus not 'real' but 'boutique' multi-culturalists, prepared to tolerate difference for as Gaus I 257 long as differences are trivial. But regardless of whether Fish's argument is sound - and it is at least debatable, in light of the long history of debate over the question of the toleration of the intolerant (Heyd, 1996)(2) - some theorists have concluded that when multiculturalism comes into conflict with more important fundamental values, multiculturalism will have to yield. EgalitarianismVsMulticulturalism: The most comprehensive liberal egalitarian critique of multiculturalism has been offered by Brian Barry in his book Culture and Equality (2001)(3). >Egalitarianism, >B. Barry, >Liberalism. Barry: According to Barry, multiculturalism is inconsistent with liberalism and a respect for liberal values and should therefore be rejected. Galston: [William] Galston has termed 'Reformation liberalism'. Unlike 'Enlightenment liberalism', which emphasizes the importance of individual autonomy, 'Reformation liberalism', Galston maintains, values diversity and sees the importance of 'differences among individuals and groups over such matters as the nature ofthe good life, sources of moral authority, reason versus faith, and the like' (1995(4): 521). BarryVsGalston: Barry rejects this distinction, but is especially critical nonetheless of those who are members of the diversity-promoting liberalism camp. >Muliculturalism/Barry. FeminismVsMulticulturalism: One of the most important objections to multiculturalism is that, in seeking exemptions or special rights for cultural groups or religious communities and organizations, it in effect seeks protection for groups whose practices are sexist and highly disadvantageous - if not altogether harmful - to women. Susan Moller Okin: this view has been put most forcefully by Susan Okin (1998(5) 1999a(6); 1999b(7); 2002(8)), who has taken issue with almost all of the most prominent defenders of multiculturalism, and found their commitment to women' s rights and interests wanting. >Multiculturalism/Feminism. Gaus I 261 Nation/nationality/citizenship/social justice/Kukathas: (...)a measure of social solidarity is necessary if citizens are to go along with institutions which perform a redistributive function. Indeed, as others have argued, the workings of legal and political institutions may depend to a significant degree on a substantial willingness on the part of the population of a state to view themselves as members of the same group, who owe something to each other in a way which they do not owe to outsiders (Patten, 2001)(9). For this reason, it may be necessary for the state to take an interest in the fostering of a sense of citizenship and belonging. Cf. >Multiculturalism, >Diversity, >Minority rights, >Kymlicka. Individualism/recognition/Kukathas: the desire of each to be recognized as different and distinctive gives rise to a demand for a politics of multiculturalism - one that recognizes and tolerates, or even encourages and honours, diversity. Yet the politics of diversity in turn may give rise to a demand for political separation, and the emergence of communities in which diversity has no place. How the many can live as one remains a salient question in political theory. >Individualism. 1. Fish, Stanley (1998) 'Boutique multiculturalism'. In Arthur Melzer, Jerry Weinberger and M. Richard Zinman, eds, Multiculturalism and American Democracy. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas Press, 2. Heyd, David, ed. (1996) Toleration: An Elusive Virtue. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 3. Barry, Brian (2001) Cultuæ and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism. Oxford: Polity. 4. Galston, William (1995) 'Two concepts of Liberalism', Ethics, 105(3): 516-34. 5. Okin, Susan Moller (1998) 'Feminism and multiculturalism: some tensions'. Ethics, 108: 661—84. 6. Okin, Susan Moller (1999a) 'Is multiculturalism bad for women?'. In Joshua Cohen, Matthew Howard and Martha C. Nussbaum, eds, Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 7-24. 7. Okin, Susan Moller (1999b) 'Reply'. In Joshua Cohen, Matthew Howard and Martha C. Nussbaum, eds, Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 115—31. 8. Okin, Susan Moller (2002) '"Mistresses of their own destiny": group rights, gender, and realistic rights of exit'. Ethics, 112: 205-30. 9. Patten, Alan (2001) 'Liberal citizenship in multinational societies'. In Alain-G. Gagnon and James Tully, eds, Multinational Democracies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 279—98. Kukathas, Chandran 2004. „Nationalism and Multiculturalism“. In: Gaus, Gerald F. & Kukathas, Chandran 2004. Handbook of Political Theory. SAGE Publications_____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Political Philosophy Gaus I Gerald F. Gaus Chandran Kukathas Handbook of Political Theory London 2004 |
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