What is it about?
In this article, I explain my theory just, reasonable multiculturalism. The theory aims to reconcile between liberalism and multiculturalism. It constructs a potential Golden Mean between liberalism and multiculturalism, arguing that they can be accommodated provided that appropriate boundaries are introduced. The theory focuses on the relationships between individual rights and group rights within the framework of democracy. The theory does not intend to be universalistic. It restricts itself to societies that uphold the principles of not harming others, and respect for others, the rule of law and the protection of basic human rights. Inter alia, the theory asks the following questions: What should people do if group rights in a democracy come into conflict with individual rights? What are the limits of state interference in group cultural affairs? What are the yardsticks for drawing the scope of interference? While distinguishing between self-inflicting harm, and other-inflicting harm, the theory ponders whether democracy is bound to tolerate every norm that members of a cultural community carry with them, even if this means that harm might be inflicted upon some members of that cultural community. In other words, do cultural norms possess enough weight to allow harm? May culture supply reasons for the toleration of behaviour that is regarded as unacceptable when evinced by other members of society who are not members of the considered sub-culture? Furthermore, the theory distinguishes between physical harm and non-physical harm, delineating the limits of both harms. The boundaries are formulated considering basic premises that provide the ground rules for conduct. These premises are supplemented by the principles of justice, reasonableness, compromise and coercion.
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Why is it important?
It is very important to reconcile between multiculturalism and liberalism, an essential and growing concern in liberal democracies.
Perspectives
This is one of my best books, a product of many years of research, analysing concerns in the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, France and the United States.
Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Just, Reasonable Multiculturalism Theory, January 2025, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-95454-3_635-1.
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