Multiculturalism 15 Markers

• minority/special rights: rights belonging to specific ethnic/religious/cultural groups > whole society
• lib. multis: guarantee of indiv. freedom + personal autonomy - cultural membership promotes personal self-respect
• plu. multis: defence against oppression by preventing values/lifestyles of minorities being devalued/ridiculed
• redressing social injustice i.e positive discrimination
• right to self-gov. i.e in case of national minorities subjected to colonial subjugation

• cultural diversity compatible with political cohesion (multi. characterised by refusal to link conflict/instability with diversity) bc diversity underpins political stability (people only able to fully participate in society on basis of cultural recognition + belonging)
• diversity is beneficial to both indiv. + society
  A) indiv. - diversity ensures toleration + allows indiv. to adopt what beliefs + cultural practises they wish
  B) society - generates vigour/vibrancy based on existence of variety of lifestyles/cultural practices/trad./beliefs promoting cultural exchange between groups then fostering cultural understanding + willingness to respect difference (antidote to social polarisation + prejudice)

• plu. multi. criticisms
  1) liberals tend to absolutise liberalism (endorsement of cultural beliefs/practices compatible with lib. commitment to indiv. freedom + personal autonomy
  2) liberals believe in universal values appliacale to all societies + cultures, seen as cultural imperialism
  3) liberal reluctancy to accept distinctive cultures/religions as being publicly recognised bc such issues belong in private sphere > public sphere
  4) liberal democracy as only legit. political system (rival political forms as oppressive + tyrannical)

• shared values + common culture as necessary preconditions for stable + successful society (nationalism > multiculturalism)
• ∴ multi. is inherently flawed bc multi. societies are inevitably fractured/conflict-ridden -> suspicion/hostility/violent being commonplace

• identity politics: seeks to advance interests of particular groups in society in face of actual/perceived oppression + marginalisation by strengthening awareness of collective identity + common experiences
  1) identity that conventional society tries to impose on cultural minorities is inauthentic/oppressive -> process of political marginalisation + cultural oppression
  2) respect + recognition for distinctive cultural identity of particular communal groups amounts to powerful form of political self-assertion; emancipation through embracing authentic cultural identity enjoying public recognition

• communitarianism: belief that self/person is constituted through community in sense that indiv. shaped by communities to which they belong ∴ owing community debt of respect + consideration
• multi. rooted in communitarian view of human nature in that people cannot be understood outside of society but are intrinsically shaped by social/cultural contexts in which one lives in
• ∴ culture in fundamental to political identity in that society being made up of rival cultural groups seeking recognition + respect (rejects universalist model of personal identity)

• universalist liberals:
  1) factors i.e culture/ethnicity/religion etc are of secondary importance as far as indiv. identity is concerned (against multi. notion that cultural difference should be publicly recognised + celebrated)
  2) indiv. rights > minority/group rights; rights/entitlements only meaningless if applied to indiv.
  3) ethical pluralism; legit. ideas/practices violate fundamental liberal commitment to freedom + personal autonomy i.e forced marriage/female circumcision/bans on apostasy

• liberal ideas/theories provide strong basis for endorsing cultural identity
  1) liberal support for toleration on grounds it benefits indiv. + society (showing respect for views + practices they disapprove of)
  2) state should be neutral on "the good"; state shouldn't intrude on realm of moral decision-making belonging to private indiv./groups
  3) liberal democracy provides most reliable basis for political harmony within culturally divided societies

• liberal + cosmo. multis

1) societies in which there is variety of lifestyles/cultural practices/traditions/beliefs are more vigorous + vibrant promoting intellectual + social development

2) cultural mixing widens opportunities available to indiv. ∴ fostering personal growth + development

3) promotion of toleration + understanding ∴ willingness to accept difference

4) encourages people to embrace responsibility as global citizens by allowing them to transcend narrow cultural + national heritage