Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Outline

MULTICULTURALISM AND LIBERAL VALUES

2015, multiculturalism and liberal values

Abstract

I always had an impression that a single sentence uttered by Dr. Martin Luther King can be used as the main principle for describing the liberal democracy: ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.’ The emphasis in his quote is clearly on two important points: multiculturalism (colour of their skin) and liberal values (content of their character). As many states have paraded multiculturalism as their first headline in establishing the trust of the electorate by announcing that the equality of different races, religions and cultures is their priority, I will argue that not enough has been done to bring them together in the homogenous and cohesive community. I will argue that calling those different racial, religious and cultural groups minorities is a wrong approach. The concept minority automatically suggests that there is a majority, as those two opposites co-substantiate one another. Although there can be a ‘healthy balance’ or unity between majority and minority (in reality or thought), when political emphasis is one the majority, the unity can be easily broken (it even further empowers the meaning of concept minority by evoking the fact that minority is always outnumbered and outvoted). The term minority can arouse feelings of weakness, marginalisation and humiliation. Instead I will call these different groups comprehensive groups. I will argue that achieving only co-existence of different comprehensive groups in the society is not enough to bring them under the ambarella of unity and cohesion. Instead I will argue that integration of different comprehensive groups represents more important task for the societal cohesion. Co-existence does not mean integration or unity; it is often culpable for misunderstanding, blame and animosity among comprehensive groups. And for that reason co-existence has to be protected but very stringent laws which keep comprehensive groups away from each other, not closer. It is the fear from the law that makes co-existence sustainable, not understanding and friendship of different groups that is the only way that can lead to complete integration. By integration I discern mutual understanding of different comprehensive groups that will help them to become closer to each other under the cover of liberal democratic society which guaranties their freedom and prosperity. Integration does not mean abandoning the traditions and cultural identity of comprehensive groups, but in accepting differences of others enriching their own and bonding together into the society that belongs to all equally. Regarding the second important point in Dr. King’s quote, liberal values as the content of one’s character, more is to be said. In this dissertation I will argue that multiculturalism is not only sustainable in a liberal society but that a society based on liberal values is the only place where multiculturalism can fully prosper, meaning that all cultural groups are free and equal and have the same rights and duties, without one dominating another. The fundamental values, on which liberal societies are built, such as individual freedom, equality and autonomy, have allowed equal treatment for all individuals as well as comprehensive groups whose doctrines include the full system of values according to which people should live their lives. Comprehensive groups may be religious, moral or philosophical and can also have opposing views on a good life. Some communitarian political philosophers, as well as some liberals, argue that liberal society cannot accommodate equal treatment for all individuals and comprehensive groups and that in fact, liberal society restricts their freedom. This is why some have insisted on different factors that matter more to social unity such as nationalism, patriotism, special rights for some groups etc. But, to offer freedom and equal rights to all individuals, liberal society cannot allow unrestricted, absolute freedom to all comprehensive groups, since that will mean compromising the same values on which it is built. No other political type of society has ever offered as much equality and prosperity to all different cultural groups within it, as liberal society does. Throughout history, there have been examples of multicultural states where it was a regular practice that a single ‘official’ or preferred culture or religion dominated all the others. It was a common practice of different empires, monarchies, republics, dictatorial and communist regimes. One culture and way of life or one religion has always been ‘official’, and therefore dominant whilst others have been suppressed, even outlawed, and have witnessed their members being expelled or prosecuted. In non-liberal societies, historically and even in this day and age, non-dominant cultural groups could have only existed under the conditions of oppression and marginalisation. In the following three chapters, I will develop the argument by starting with liberal values as the pillars of liberal society. Thanks to liberal values such as freedom and equality, and especially autonomy, different cultural groups can be fully open to all individuals who will voluntarily decide which community or association they will join and follow their teachings or way of life. Explaining the development of liberal values through political philosophy in the first chapter, I will discuss the liberal theories of John Locke (often credited as the founder of liberalism), Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, John Rawls, Robert Nozick and Friedrich Hayek. In the second chapter, I will introduce communitarian views and their criticisms of some liberal values. As communitarians insist on the community’s value over the individuals, their criticisms are directed mainly towards the individual autonomy. I will then discuss the issue of special rights demanded for different comprehensive groups (Iris Marion Young and Bhikhu Parekh), the criticism of Rawls’ theory of person (Michael Sandel), the defence of a nation (Roger Scruton), nationalism (David Miller) and patriotism (Alasdair MacIntyre) as opposites of the fundamentals of liberal society. In the third chapter I will present the defence of liberalism and prove that multiculturalism can only fully prosper in a liberal society. As Rawls suggested in his early work, what we aim for ourselves should be always allowed to everyone else. This means that that political freedom, free choice of religion and other comprehensive doctrines should be allowed to all as essential attributes of free and equal individuals. What is often happening is that cultural groups demand special rights in order to increase their powers over their members, therefore avoiding the liberal laws being implemented over the group regarding specific issues. I will also question the nature and validity of special rights and their purpose and necessity in a liberal society. I will support my thesis with John Stuart Mill, John Rawls, Brian Barry and Amy Guttmann’s views. The world as a community of societies is definitely going in the direction foreseen by liberal philosophers rather than their critics. Purely ethnic societies don’t exist anymore in the developed world. Multiculturalism was a simply unavoidable consequence of the industrial revolution, expansion of the world trade and global economics. Free transport of goods, people and ideas is not wishful thinking anymore, but rather the reality of a modern world. Progress has no national feelings, patriotic bondage or religious dominance. The world in which humanity expresses its potentials has changed the landscape of pragmatic and romantic political theorists. Empires have collapsed, dictators have failed, and democracy has created new political conditions in which people as individuals have found their place and justified the current national and ever-increasing global politics. Politics that are not justified by the majority of citizens and cultural groups will undoubtedly fail. In order to be justified they have to be liberal. They have to guarantee freedom and equality to all, regardless of their religious, philosophical, moral or other doctrines.

FAQs

sparkles

AI

How does the integration of diverse cultural groups enhance societal cohesion?add

The study argues that integration, rather than just co-existence, fosters mutual understanding between comprehensive groups, promoting unity. Effective integration enables individuals to preserve their cultural identities while contributing to a cohesive society.

What undermines the concept of minorities in multicultural societies?add

Labeling groups as minorities reinforces feelings of marginalization and dominance, thus weakening societal cohesion. The paper advocates for recognizing these groups as comprehensive groups to promote equality and inclusion.

Why is liberalism essential for the prosperity of multiculturalism?add

The research indicates that liberal societies uniquely facilitate equality and freedom for all cultural groups, enhancing their rights and duties. Historical examples, like those from communist regimes, illustrate the failure of non-liberal societies to support cultural diversity.

What challenges do special rights pose within liberal frameworks?add

The study finds that special rights can risk undermining individual equality and create barriers to integration. While claiming cultural preservation, special rights can conflict with liberal laws protecting individual freedoms.

How do communitarian critiques fall short concerning liberalism's pluralism?add

Communitarian perspectives often prioritize communal over individual rights, risking polarization within multicultural societies. This approach contradicts liberalism's fundamental tenet of treating all individuals equally, regardless of their cultural affiliations.

References (18)

  1. -Kukathas, C. 1997. 'Multiculturalism as fairness: Will Kymlicka's Multicultural Citizenship' in Journal of Political Philosophy, 406-27
  2. -Kymlicka, W. 2002. 'Contemporary Political Philosophy', (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
  3. -Kymlicka, W. 1995. 'Multi-Cultural Citizenship', (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
  4. -Macintyre, A. 2011. 'After Virtue', (London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc)
  5. -Macintyre, A. 'Is patriotism a Virtue?' in 'Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy' 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press)
  6. -Mill, J. S. 2005. 'On Liberty' (New York: Cosimo)
  7. -Miller, D. 2003. 'In defence of Nationality' in 'Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy' edited by Derek Matraveres and John Pike, (Oxon: Routledge)
  8. -Mulhall, S. and Swift, A. 1992. 'Liberals and Communitarians', (Oxford, Blackwell Publishing)
  9. -Nozick. R. 1974. 'Anarchy, State and Utopia', (Oxford, Basil Blackwell Ltd)
  10. -Parekh, B. 2003. 'Contemporary Liberal Response to Diversity' in 'Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy' edited by Derek Matraveres and John Pike, (Oxon: Routledge)
  11. -Rawls, J. 1993. 'Political Liberalism' (New York: Columbia University Press 2005, first published)
  12. -Rawls, J. 1971. 'A Theory of Justice', (Cambridge, Harvard University Press)
  13. -Rawls, J. 1993. 'Political Liberalism', (New York, Columbia University Press, 2005, first published in)
  14. -Sandel, M. 2003. 'Liberalism and Limits of Justice', 1982 in 'Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy' ed. Derek Matraveres and John Pike, (Oxon: Routledge) 66
  15. -Scruton, R. 2003. 'In Defence of Nation' in 'Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy' eds. Derek Matraveres and John Pike, (Oxon: Routledge)
  16. -Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/multiculturalism/, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberalism/, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/communitarianism/, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/autonomy-moral/, viewed April-May 2015
  17. -Weinstock, D.M. 2002. 'Citizenship and Pluralism', in The Blackwell Guide to Social and Political Philosophy, ed. Robert l. Simon, (Oxford: Blackwell)
  18. -Young, I.M. 2001. 'Polity and Group Difference' in 'Debates in Contemporary Political Philosophy' ed. Derek Matraveres and John Pike, (Oxon: Routledge)