The traditional model of citizenship-as-rights has been challenged by the idea of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is a theory that provides a moral basis about the way to respond to the problems regarding cultural and religious diversity. Modern societies are characterized by deep diversity and cultural pluralism. In the past, diversity was ignored and stifled by models of the normal citizen who were normally able-bodied, heterosexual, white males. But today many groups that were excluded in the past are standing up and are demanding a more inclusive concept of citizenship. An outline and critical analysis of Kymlicka’s theory of multiculturalism shows how society has progressed to be more accepting and tolerant of minority groups. The
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Liberals insist that individuals should be free to decide on their own conception of the good life. Liberal individualists argue that the individual is morally prior to the community. Communitarians on the other hand, view people as embedded in particular social roles and relationships. Kymlicka says that the assumption in the first debate was that one’s view about multiculturalism depended on whether you were a liberal or a communitarian. Liberals opposed multiculturalism because they viewed it as unnecessary and a departure from the proper emphasis on the individual. Communitarians viewed multiculturalism as a way of protecting communities from the harmful effects of individual autonomy. As a result, early defenders of multiculturalism believed that communitarianism was a “possible philosophical foundation for minority rights” (Kymlicka 337). The problem that as society progressed people realized that simplifying multiculturalism to a debate between liberals and communitarians was …show more content…
But most minority groups want to integrate themselves into society and have full and equal participation in society. Immigrants for example quickly absorb the basic liberal democratic consensus. However, “groups claiming minority rights insist that at least certain forms of public recognition and support for their language, practices, and identities” are consistent with basic liberal democratic principles (Kymlicka 339). This claim lead to the second stage in the multiculturalism debate which dealt with the scope of multiculturalism within a liberal theory. Joseph Raz claims that the autonomy of individuals is centered around their access to their culture and that practicing multiculturalism helps to ensure this “cultural flourishing and mutual respect” (Kymlicka
Liberals insist that individuals should be free to decide on their own conception of the good life. Liberal individualists argue that the individual is morally prior to the community. Communitarians on the other hand, view people as embedded in particular social roles and relationships. Kymlicka says that the assumption in the first debate was that one’s view about multiculturalism depended on whether you were a liberal or a communitarian. Liberals opposed multiculturalism because they viewed it as unnecessary and a departure from the proper emphasis on the individual. Communitarians viewed multiculturalism as a way of protecting communities from the harmful effects of individual autonomy. As a result, early defenders of multiculturalism believed that communitarianism was a “possible philosophical foundation for minority rights” (Kymlicka 337). The problem that as society progressed people realized that simplifying multiculturalism to a debate between liberals and communitarians was …show more content…
But most minority groups want to integrate themselves into society and have full and equal participation in society. Immigrants for example quickly absorb the basic liberal democratic consensus. However, “groups claiming minority rights insist that at least certain forms of public recognition and support for their language, practices, and identities” are consistent with basic liberal democratic principles (Kymlicka 339). This claim lead to the second stage in the multiculturalism debate which dealt with the scope of multiculturalism within a liberal theory. Joseph Raz claims that the autonomy of individuals is centered around their access to their culture and that practicing multiculturalism helps to ensure this “cultural flourishing and mutual respect” (Kymlicka