Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory

Bhikhu Parekh argues for a pluralist perspective on cultural diversity. Writing from both within the liberal tradition and outside of it as a critic, he challenges what he calls the "moral monism" of much of traditional moral philosophy, including contemporary liberalism--its tendency to assert that only one way of life or set of values is worthwhile and to dismiss the rest as misguided or false. He defends his pluralist perspective both at the level of theory and in subtle nuanced analyses of recent controversies. Thus, he offers careful and clear accounts of why cultural differences should be respected and publicly affirmed, why the separation of church and state cannot be used to justify the separation of religion and politics, and why the initial critique of Salman Rushdie (before a Fatwa threatened his life) deserved more serious attention than it received. Rejecting naturalism, which posits that humans have a relatively fixed nature and that culture is an incidental, and "culturalism," which posits that they are socially and culturally constructed with only a minimal set of features in common, he argues for a dialogic interplay between human commonalities and cultural differences. This will allow, Parekh argues, genuinely balanced and thoughtful compromises on even the most controversial cultural issues in the new multicultural world in which we live.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Moral Monism Greek monism Christian monism Monism of classical liberalism Locke J. S. Mill Critique of monism 2. Forms of Pluralism Vico Montesquieu Herder Misunderstanding culture 3. Contemporary Liberal Responses to Diversity Rawls Raz Kymlicka General comments 4. Conceptualizing Human Beings Human nature Basis of cultural diversity Pluralist universalism Asian values 5. Understanding Culture The nature and structure of culture The dynamics of culture Cultural community Loyalty to culture Cultural interaction Cultural diversity Evaluating cultures Respecting cultures 6. Reconstituting the Modern State The Canadian debate The Indian debate The search for new political formations 7.

About the Author :
Bhikhu Parekh is Professor of Political Theory at the University of Hull. He is chair of the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain.

Review :
Bhikhu Parekh's Rethinking Multiculturalism is a very rich book...One of the things which makes the book so valuable is that it is written by a political theorist who has had hands-on experience of the problems involved, and in more than one country. Its author has a lively sense of the immense range of situations, and the variety of problems, tensions and conflicts. -- Charles Taylor Times Literary Supplement Reading Parekh, one is always led to think freshly about the matter at hand and to consider questions that had not been visible before. All of these virtues are on display here, but this book goes even further. It achieves a level of theoretical coherence and a depth of insight that is rare and impressive. This is a wonderful book. It will challenge, stimulate, and enrich all those who encounter it. -- Joseph H. Carens International Migration Review Parekh offers much that is fresh and original both in his critical review of political philosophers on cultural pluralism, and in his account of culture, human value, and the meaning of justice and equality in a multicultural society...Parekh's style and tone exemplifies the dialogic attitude whose importance he also theorizes substantively in the book. -- Irish Marion Young Ethnicities Brilliantly argued, rigorous, acute in its theoretical insights and persuasive in its practical suggestions...Bhikhu Parekh has produced something very important here. Rethinking Multiculturalism is sophisticated but also accessible; it really does force the most skeptical to "rethink" a wide range of issues. -- Stephen Howe Independent [Rethinking Multiculturalism is an] ambitious, engaging, and provocative analysis of the opportunities and challenges contemporary multiculturalism presents at the outset of the 21st century...[Bhiku Parekh offers] a nuanced examination of human nature, of cultural diversity, of the essence and structure of culture, of the importance for, and nature of, cross-cultural interaction, and of the reason why cultural diversity should not merely be accepted and accommodated, but appreciated as a positive value to be cherished and fostered. To accomplish this task requires, as Parekh repeatedly reminds his readers, an open and equal dialogue between mutually respectful cultural communities and the ability of the state or polity to reconcile the demands of political unity and cultural diversity. -- Richard Connors Journal of International Migration and Integration