Introduction

Toleration is widely considered as one of the core values of liberalism. Traditionally, toleration is characterized as the willingness to put up with, or to permit, actions or practices of others, which one disapproves of and which one otherwise would seek to prohibit or prevent from occurring. Contemporary debates on toleration thus cover an immense variety of theoretical and political issues ranging from controversies over its exact understanding and conceptual scope as well as its practical boundaries, e.g. regarding freedom of expression or the legitimate role of religious symbols in educational institutions to the French burqa ban. Toleration has been attacked both on practical and on theoretical grounds. On practical grounds, when confronting religious terrorism, many commentators have asked whether toleration can remain the general policy toward cultural and religious diversity. Theoretically, toleration has been questioned as to its analytical capacity in realm of partisan politics. The chapter also provides an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.