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Single Idea 23388

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / e. Liberal community ]

Full Idea

Liberals need to replace the idea of 'benign neglect', and recognise the central role of nation-building in a democracy. …This means promoting a common language, and equal access to institutions operating in that language.

Gist of Idea

Liberals need more than freedom; they must build a nation, through a language and institutions

Source

Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (2nd edn) [2002], 8.3)

Book Ref

Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (2nd ed)' [OUP 2002], p.347

A Reaction

'Benign neglect' is non-interference with citizens' lives. Obviously the institutions include education, but is a state health service implied? Can equal access by guaranteed to private institutions?

Related Idea

Idea 23389 Why shouldn't national minorities have their own right to nation-build? [Kymlicka]

The 22 ideas from 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (2nd edn)'

23369 Some liberals thinks checks and balances are enough, without virtuous citizens [Kymlicka]
23370 Good citizens need civic virtues of loyalty, independence, diligence, respect, etc. [Kymlicka]
23373 Liberals accept that people need society, but Aristotelians must show that they need political activity [Kymlicka]
23375 Minimal liberal citizenship needs common civility, as well as mere non-interference [Kymlicka]
23376 Modern non-discrimination obliges modern citizens to treat each other as equals [Kymlicka]
23377 The right wing sees citizenship in terms of responsibility to earn a living, rather than rights [Kymlicka]
23371 Modern democratic theory focuses on talk, not votes, because we need consensus or compromise [Kymlicka]
23374 We have become attached to private life because that has become greatly enriched [Kymlicka]
23379 Rights are a part of nation-building, to build a common national identity and culture [Kymlicka]
23382 Rights derived from group membership are opposed to the idea of state citizenship [Kymlicka]
23378 The welfare state helps to integrate the working classes into a national culture [Kymlicka]
23380 Some individuals can gain citizenship as part of a group, rather than as mere individuals [Kymlicka]
23381 The status hierarchy is independent of the economic hierarchy [Kymlicka]
23383 Some multiculturalists defended the rights of cohesive minorities against liberal individualism [Kymlicka]
23384 'Culturalist' liberals say that even liberal individuals may need minority rights [Kymlicka]
23385 Multiculturalism may entail men dominating women in minority groups [Kymlicka]
23386 Liberals must prefer minority right which are freedoms, not restrictions [Kymlicka]
23387 Liberals must avoid an official culture, as well as an official religion [Kymlicka]
23388 Liberals need more than freedom; they must build a nation, through a language and institutions [Kymlicka]
23389 Why shouldn't national minorities have their own right to nation-build? [Kymlicka]
23390 In a liberal democracy all subjects of authority have a right to determine the authority [Kymlicka]
23391 Multiculturalism is liberal if it challenges inequality, conservative if it emphasises common good [Kymlicka]