ABSTRACT
Recognition has become a key theme in contemporary political, social and international relations theory. Its centrality to social life appears almost self-evident given that how we recognise others and are recognised by others is fundamental to both the identity of individual subjects and the relations between self and other in ethical community. It follows that recognition is also central to political life: nominally, as a necessity in the formation of self-identity and therefore something properly basic to relations between self and other; expansively, as a normative foundation for ethico-political relations concerned with the mutual recognition of all members of society (both individuals and groups), the actualisation of their capacities, respect of their identity, and esteem of their social contribution.
