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Single Idea 23391

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / f. Multiculturalism ]

Full Idea

Liberal multiculturalism challenges status inequalities while preserving individual freedom. …Conservative multiculturalism replaces liberal principles with a communitarian politics of the common good, at least at the local or group level.

Gist of Idea

Multiculturalism is liberal if it challenges inequality, conservative if it emphasises common good

Source

Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (2nd edn) [2002], 8.6)

Book Ref

Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (2nd ed)' [OUP 2002], p.369


A Reaction

[compressed] This sounds a bit simplistic. Recent emphasis on 'the common good', in the face of white supremacists etc., seems admirable, but surely challenging inequalities promotes the common good? Minority cultures are often conservative.


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

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