Multiculturalism Flashcards
What does politics of recognition argue is necessary for equality between different social groups
People need to have their individual cultures recognised. Instead of focusing on ensuring everyone has the same formal equality and equality of opportunity (which are insufficient conditions in ensuring equality), we should celebrate the differences between social groups to allow minorities to assert themselves
Why are multiculturalists against politics of rights
This belief is rooted in republicanism and argues that we should have a “difference blind” society in which everyone has the same formal equality.
Multiculturalists think this is insufficient in guaranteeing equality for minority groups, whose differences should be recognised and celebrated
Why are multiculturalists opposed to politics of redistribution
This idea argues that formal quality is insufficient in guaranteeing equality cause not everyone in society starts with equal footing as there is innate social inequality that needs to be addressed. Therefore to achieve equality we need to give people equality of opportunity foremost, instead of just equality of outcome.
Multiculturalists believe this to be insufficient to guarantee minority rights as it only accounts for social differences, not cultural ones
Which key thinker is imperative to politics of recognition
Charles Taylor
He argued that everyone has a right to be culturally recognised
What is culture
A set of beliefs, practices and values passed on over many generations
A core multiculturalist principle
What is communitarianism
A part of culture which states that people are intrinsically shaped by their social and cultural background, meaning the differences between cultures are foundational to individual identity and people can only achieve a sense of purpose through their unique community
What is liberal universalism and why do multiculturalists criticise it
A belief that all cultures have the same “inner” identity, which opposes the multicultural stress on communitarianism and celebrating the differences between cultures, because if people are not distinctly culturally recognised they can feel isolated
What is ethnocultural nationalism
The belief that everyone in a nation has a shared national identity and thus ethnicity
Criticised by multiculturalists as ignorant to the differences existing between cultures which should be recognised and accepted to achieve social and political cohesion
How do nationalists and multiculturalists differ in their views on diversity
Whilst nationalists believe that societal success is dependant upon a shared identity (so diversity= disunity), multiculturalists believe that diversity is best for political and social cohesion by fostering tolerance between different groups and providing a sense of belonging to individuals
What are the 3 minority rights identified by Kymlicka
-self government rights
-poly ethnic rights
-representation rights
What are self government rights
Rights afforded to endemic social groups in their respective regions allowing them power over themselves and the land that was wrongfully taken from them via colonialism (e.g. self government rights of Maori people in NZ and native Americans/Canadians)
What are polyethnic rights
Rights afforded to certain cultural/ religious groups allowing them to continue certain practices in spite of national laws and policies (e.g. Jewish and Muslim exempt from animal slaughter laws)
What are representation rights
Rights which reinstate minority groups in the education system as well as in senior public/ political roles
Which key thinker helped progress representation rights
Parekh
He helped reform the UK education system to include more teaching of minority history in the curriculum
What is positive discrimination and affirmative action
Positive discrimination is when a historically disadvantaged group is afforded special treatment in an attempt to address these historic inequalities
Affirmative action are policies put in place in an attempt to carry out positive discrimination
Kymlicka endorsed positive discrimination as a means to the end of representation rights
What did UC vs Bakke (1978) rule
This US SC ruling stated that affirmative action policies in Us university admissions were lawful, meaning minority candidates with lower qualifications than white students were prioritised
What did SFFA v Harvard and SFFA vs UNC (2024) do
This US SC ruling formally overturned the constitutionality of affirmative action policies, meaning affirmative action in US uni admissions is now unconstitutional
