Multicultural citizenship: a liberal theory of minority rights

TLDR

Modern societies’ growing multiculturalism has created new conflicts as ethnic and national minorities seek recognition and support for their cultural identity. The book proposes a new conception of minority cultural rights, arguing that collective rights can align with liberal democratic principles and address common objections. The author argues that no single formula applies to all groups, noting differing needs of immigrants, indigenous peoples, and national minorities, and examines language rights, representation, religious education, federalism, and secession.

Abstract

The increasingly multicultural fabric of modern societies has given rise to many new issues and conflicts, as ethnic and national minorities demand recognition and support for their cultural identity. This book presents a new conception of the rights and status of minority cultures. It argues that certain sorts of 'collective rights' for minority cultures are consistent with liberal democratic principles, and that standard liberal objections to recognizing such rights on grounds of individual freedom, social justice, and national unity, can be answered. However, Professor Kymlicka emphasises that no single formula can be applied to all groups and that the needs and aspirations of immigrants are very different from those of indigenous peoples and national minorities. The book discusses issues such as language rights, group representation, religious education, federalism, and secession - issues which are central to understanding multicultural politics, but which have been surprisingly neglected in contemporary liberal theory.