Muliculturalism Flashcards
Key thinkers (and what strands they align with)
-Kymlicka (liberal)
-Taylor (pluralist)
-Parekh (pluralist)
-Modood (pluralist)
-Berlin (pluralist-although inherently a liberal but not a liberal MC)
What are the core ideas posited by Kymlicka?
-founded the idea of minority rights (having proponents of polyethnic, self government and representation rights)
-reconciles liberalism with multiculturalism
What are the core ideas of Charles Taylor?
-founded idea of needing a politics of recognition
-communitarianism (culture shapes human identity)
-politics of difference (celebrating and acknowledging the differences between cultures rather than overlooking them)
What are the core ideas posited by Bhikhu Parekh?
-advocated cultural pluralism (many cultures existing in the same nation and working together) and the value of cross cultural dialogue
-communitarianism
-diversity leads to cohesion (diversity as in end in itself)
What are the core ideas posited by Tariq Modood?
-pluralising the national narrative to include minority groups
-reassertion of what it means to be part of a certain culture and thus develop a strong cultural identity
-4 modes of integration of minorities into a society with a different dominant culture: full assimilation, individualist integration, cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism
What are the core ideas posited by Isaiah Berlin?
-value pluralism (many cultures provide different explanations as to what the best quality of life is but none are more morally correct than others)
-post liberalism (liberalism is no longer suitable as a framework under which society can be explained, as individuals are shaped by their cultural and social contexts rather than existing as atomised individuals that are purely autonomous)
Who can be used for cosmopolitan MC (not key thinkers)
-Jeremy Waldron (belief in “mongrelisation” in society)
-Kwame Anthony Appiah (argued the notion of biological race is conceptually problematic and criticised over amplification of race as a key part of someone’s identity)
How do the MC strands agree on diversity and tolerance
All strands agree that diversity is important to the preservation of culture and identity and a necessary feature of society
Why do liberal MCs value diversity (agreeing with other strands)
Liberal MCs value diversity because it adds vibrancy to society, creating a “free market of ideas” (aligning with actual liberal ideas posited by JS Mill) and ensures individual autonomy by providing a “context of choice”, allowing people to determine to most fulfilling life path (Kymlicka ideas)
Why do pluralist MCs value diversity (agreeing with other strands)
Believe diversity is valuable because it aids cross cultural dialogue and thus understanding of different cultures (ideas of Parekh and Modood)
Also valuable because it facilitates minority recognition, preventing alienation (Taylor)
Why do cosmopolitan MCs value diversity (agreeing with other strands)
Believe diversity is valuable as it facilitates cultural exchange, setting the platform for global citizenship by allowing one to pick and choose from different cultures)
How do the strands of MC disagree on diversity
Disagree on the extent to which diversity should extend and be tolerated
How do liberal MCs depart from other strands in their beliefs about diversity
Believe in shallow diversity, which iterates that cultural practices can only be tolerated if they abide by a liberal framework and thus do not infringe upon individual rights (as these are prioritised). However there is still a belief that diversity inherently facilitates liberalism by treating people individually
For example, the liberal MC would be intolerant of cultures which practice FGM and forced marriage for this reason
(Kymlicka)
How do pluralist MCs depart from other strands in their ideas on diversity
Subscription to deep diversity, in which many groups feel that they belong to society whilst still being totally culturally recognised. This idea is rooted in value pluralism (Berlin), because all of these different cultures will have different beliefs about what “the good life” (Parekh) looks like, neither of which is more morally correct than another, and a suspicion of liberal universalism (the idea that everyone has the same “inner” identity) (Parekh). Diversity is an end in itself as it facilitates cohesion.
How do cosmopolitan MCs depart from other strands in their ideas on diversity
Believe diversity is a transitional state in achieving “global citizenship”. The end goal is that everyone has a globalised, hybridised identity, and diversity is a necessary means to that end (a melting pot society) as it facilitates cultural exchange
In what way do all the strands agree in their ideas about politics of recognition?
All strands agree that there is a responsibility for the dominant culture to recognise minority cultures
Why do liberal MCs believe in politics of recognition (agreeing with other strands)
Believe that recognition of minority cultures via the state is necessary to diffuse tension between different cultures. Practices like positive discrimination and affirmative action (supported by Kymlicka) are valuable in preventing animosity or feelings of isolation
Why do pluralist MCs believe in politics of recognition (agreeing with other strands)
Charles Taylor (who came up with politics of recognition and is a pluralist) said that recognition is a “vital human need” and that a lack of recognition can lead to “crippling self hatred”, thus recognition of minority groups is essential in preventing ostracism and ensuring cohesion and belonging for both the individual and the group
How do the strands disagree in their beliefs on the politics of recognition
There is disagreement as to why we need recognition in society
Why do liberal MCs believe we need recognition (departing from other strands)
Believe that recognition creates a society that ensures individual autonomy and individualism (going back to the idea of a context of choice). Kymlicka once again states that a culture is only worthy of recognition if it can exist within a liberal framework that prioritises individual rights
Why do pluralist MCs believe we need recognition (departure from other strands)
Believe recognition of minorities is imperative due to the belief in communitarianism (culture informs our personal identity) iterated by Taylor and Parekh.
Modood said multiculturalism needs to extend beyond “steel bands, saris and samosas” (implying that people need to feel recognised beyond just what they wear or eat or listen to)
What do cosmopolitan MCs believe about recognition (departure from other strands)
Believe in cultural “mongrelisation” (idea of Waldron) in developing a society where people have hybrid identities. This undermines the distinct cultural recognition and celebration of difference recognised by liberals and pluralists
What is the conservative criticism of recognition
Recognition is dangerous as it can undermine social cohesion by promoting values that oppose the national identity
How do the strands agree in their views on assimilation and integration
All strands agree that total assimilation is disagreeable
Why do liberal MCs oppose total assimilation (agreeing with other strands)
Believe assimilation perpetuates inequality by denying minority groups the freedom to express their identity (e.g. unilingual policies disallow those who speak other languages full freedom of expression). This is why Kymlicka was so pro-minority rights of french Canadian groups who didn’t predominantly speak English
Why do pluralist MCs oppose total assimilation (agreeing with other strands)
Believe that assimilation ignores the importance of culture, breeding alienation and tension by imposing a hatred of oneself and of other who oppress you. (Link back to Taylor)
HOWEVER Modood believes full assimilation is permissible IF the individual has given consent to do so
Why do cosmopolitan MCs oppose total assimilation (agreeing with other strands)
Believe full assimilation ignores inclusivity and undermines social harmony by extricating society of cross cultural exchange that is needed to achieve hybridisation. Assimilation suggests one culture is better than another and so should be totally taken on, which opposes their values of cultural mixing.
How do the strands differ in their views on assimilation and integration
Have different views on them ways in which minority cultures can integrate into a society with a different dominant culture
What do liberal MCs believe about integration (departing from other strands)
Believe in individualist integration, where in the public realm everyone has a shared civic culture and in the private realm people are free to practice their own culture however they please. This creates a platform for hyphenated cultures (e.g. African-American, Italian-American).
An extreme version of this is seen in the french policy of laicite (secularism), in which everyone is publicly secular but privately free to practice religion
What do pluralist MCs believe about integration (departing from other strands)
Successful integration comes from totally preserving cultural difference and recognising that no one culture is superior (value pluralism of Berlin and also iterated by Parekh). Modood believed this can be achieved by pluralising the national narrative to include minority groups.
For the more extreme pluralist, a particularist multiculturalist would encourage cultural purity in which there is no cultural exchange, as this maximises the preservation of minority cultures by preventing the dominant group tainting or diluting them through imbalanced exchange. Liberals may criticise this as creating a platform for plural monoculturalism in which there is not cultural overlap (Amartya Sen)
What do cosmopolitan MCs believe about integration (departing from other strands)
Believe cultural mixing is the approach to be celebrated, creating hybridised identities and eventual global citizenship. This is criticised by pluralists as failing to celebrate the differences between cultures and their distinct characteristics
Conservative criticism of integration/ MC disdain towards assimilation
Assimilation is the only way to preserve a common national identity so social cohesion would be undermined by cultural separation
What do all strands agree about minority rights
All strands agree that minority rights need to be embraced to promote integration and uphold a political of recognition
How does Kymlicka position on minority rights transfer to all the strands
Kymlicka recognised that the state has a responsibility to afford group differentiated rights to minority groups because formal equality is insufficient in ensuring everyone in society is equal and on the same footing, so historically oppressed groups need extra rights to ensure social cohesion
What are the 3 types of group differentiated rights outlined by Kymlicka (and agreed upon by all strands)
-self government rights to indigenous people (e.g. those given to Māoris in NZ and native Americans/ Canadians)
-polyethnic rights helping minorities self assert despite policies established by the dominant culture (e.g. animal slaughter law exemptions for Jews and Muslims, Sikh exemption from motorbike helmets so they can wear turbans etc)
-representation rights, especially in education and the political system (e.g. positive discrimination)
How do the strands disagree on minority rights
Disagreement on the extent to which minority rights should be implemented
How do liberal MCs differ in their views on minority rights?
Liberals believe minority rights exist to preserve individual autonomy so must fit within a liberal framework. Again, these rights cannot extend to protect illiberal practices.
How do pluralist MCs differ in their views on minority rights?
Believe minority rights are a fundamental component of a multicultural society and should be extended as widely as possible. To the extreme, particularist MCs believe minority rights are imperative in redressing the historical oppression face by minority groups as a product of colonialism.
How do cosmopolitan MCs differ in their views on minority rights?
Believe minority rights are instrumentally (important now) useful in redressing immediate minority injustice, however they will eventually be nullified as the end goal is for there to be no minority culture as cosmopolitan integration will lead to everyone becoming hybridised.
Conservative criticism of minority rights
Minority rights are inherently unfair as positive discrimination affords special privileges to certain groups, they promote division in society and undermine the need for a common culture
How do all strands agree in their views on culture and identity
All strands agree that culture is important for human identity by providing the prism through which the external world becomes meaningful (a lens that shapes how one sees the world)
How do liberal MCs agree with other strands in their views on culture and identity
Liberals believe that our choices are shaped by the cultural context in which we exist. Thus, to be autonomous we need culture to provide a meaningful “context of choice” (Kymlicka)
How do pluralist MCs agree with other strands in their views on culture and identity?
Pluralists believe in communitarianism, meaning humans are culturally embedded and out identity is shared by our culture, as parekh said, culture has “profoundly shaped our identities”
How do cosmopolitan MCs agree with other strands in their views on culture and identity
Culture is important because people value culture to be able to make decisions and carry out certain practices. Cross cultural exchange allows for the transfer of these ideas, meaning everyone in society is even better informed on other cultures and what matters most to them.
“Culture matters because people matter and culture matters to people” (Kwame Anthony Appiah)
How do the strands disagree in their views on culture and identity
The strands disagree on the nature of cultural identity and the extent to which culture should be publicly acknowledged
How do liberal MCs disagree with other strands on culture and identity
Liberals believe culture is seen as a private matter that isn’t relevant to the public realm or to the state so long as your civic consciousness is strong (state don’t need to intervene in your private life but everyone should publicly have a shared civic identity)
How do pluralist MCs disagree with other strands in their beliefs on culture and identity
For the sake of one’s identity, culture needs to be fully recognised, as any rejection of culture in public and private can leave a “grievous wound” (Taylor)
How do cosmopolitan MCs disagree with other strands in their views on culture and identity
Believe that cultures are malleable, with cultural mixing allowing people to create a new, hybridised identity instead of recognising the discrete differences between cultures.
Conservative criticism of culture and identity
Humans are psychologically imperfect, so a common cultural identity is required for stability in society
How do MC strands agree in their views on cultural exchange
Most strands agree that there is value in cross cultural dialogue in being able to promote inclusivity in society
How do Modoods ideas on cultural exchange transfer to most strands of MC
Modood said that cross cultural dialogue fosters understanding between different groups, promoting social cohesion by eroding unfair stereotypes some groups may have of others and creating an opportunity to resolve conflict between groups
How do the strands disagree in their views on cultural exchange
The strands disagree on the ways in which cultures should be shared
How do liberal MCs disagree with other strands in their views on cultural exchange
Liberals believe that culture sharing should only take place within the limits of a liberal democracy. This links to their advocacy of shallow diversity, as we are all bound by the shared social value system that is liberalism
How do pluralist MCs disagree with other strands in their views on cultural exchange
Pluralists believe that cultures should be understood on their own terms due to a belief in deep diversity iterated by Parekh.
To the most extreme, particularist MCs encourage cultural purity and thus limited cultural exchange, as there is suspicion towards engagement with the dominant culture due to its corrupting influence (again linking to their disdain for integration and assimilation)
How do cosmopolitan MCs disagree with other strands in their views on cultural exchange
Believe that cultural exchange is imperative , because to create a melting pot society individuals need to be able to pick and choose different cultural elements they most closely align with. Culture is fluid and responsive to changing social circumstances, so dialogue between cultures ensures there is no conflict and plenty of opportunity to hybridise.
