Liberal multiculturalism Flashcards
What is liberalism ‘neutral’ towards?
It claims to be neutral in relation to the moral and cultural decisions that citizens make
What is the idea behind the «Right» and the «Good» in relation to peoples lives?
- John Rawls said that liberalism strives to establish a condition in which people can establish a life that they define as ‘good’ (called ‘the Right’)
- This should be done without trying to promote and particular values or moral beliefs (called ‘the Good’)
What does it mean that liberalism is ‘difference-blind’?
- It treats factors such as culture, ethnicity, race, religion and gender as irrelevant as all people should be evaluated as morally autonomous individuals
How does tolerance prove to be an obstacle for cultural diversity under liberal multiculturalism?
- The concept of tolerance is NOT morally neutral, and so can only provide a limited endorsement of cultural diversity
- It can only really extend to views, values and social practices that are themselves tolerant
What practices to liberal multiculturalists see as ‘tolerant’ and NOT ‘tolerant’?
- Tolerant practices are those that are compatible with personal freedom and autonomy (these are the ones they can accept)
- Things like FGM, forced marriage, female dress codes, etc are NOT tolerant and therefore NOT accepted
Do liberal multiculturalists agree with ‘shallow’ or ‘deep’ diversity and what does this mean?
- They agree with SHALLOW diversity
- This is the diversity that accepts the idea of objective or ‘absolute’ standards (based on moral relativism)
What is ‘private life’ for liberal multicularists?
- The realm of freedom in which people should be free to express their cultural, religious and language identity
What is ‘public life’ for liberal multiculturalists?
- This is where behaviours should be characterised by at least a bedrock of shared civic allegiances
How does liberal multiculturalism work with civic nationalism? Give an example of where this plays out
- Citizenship is different to cultural identity (which is a ‘private’ matter)
- This can be seen through ‘hyphenated nationality’ in the US (e.g African-Americans)
Do liberal multiculturalists therefore endorse integration or diversity? Example?
- They prefer integration rather than diversity in the PUBLIC sphere
- The US stresses proficiency in English and knowledge of US political history as preconditions fir gaining citizenship
How has multiculturalism presented itself in France?
- More radical ‘Republican’ multiculturalism
- Idea of ‘Laïcité’ (secularism), where there have been bans on all forms of overt religious affiliations in schools and a ban on the full face veil in public (Belgium followed in 2011)
What governing system is seen as the sole legitimate political system under liberal multiculturalism and why?
- Liberal democracy
- It alone ensures that government is based on the consent of the people and upholds diversity by guaranteeing personal freedom and tolerance
- Would therefore reject establishment of Islamic State based on adoption of Shari’a law
How does Will Kymlicka argue that minority rights are compatible with liberalism?
- He justified them in terms of ensuring full and equal participation for integrating cultures (differentiated citizenship)
- Enables citizenship but goes beyond the formal equality liberals usually like
What are the 3 types of minority rights according to Will Kymlicka?
- SELF GOVERNING:belongs to national minorities (e.g Australian Aboriginals). Argues for revolution of political power/sovereign independence to the people there
- POLYETHNIC: help ethnic groups and religious minorities express their cultural distinctiveness (e.g legal exemptions)
- REPRESENTATION: positive discrimination to ensure full participation of all groups
