ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the concept of tolerance and how it differs from, for example, “recognition” and “respect”. The questions of how tolerance can be conceptualised and what it involves are discussed by making a distinction between tolerance as appreciation and tolerance as forbearance. The latter will be discussed more extensively, because this is the distinct meaning that we have focused upon in our research and that is central in the book. The “forbearance model of tolerance” will be explained which we have developed and that relates to “objection, acceptance, and rejection” as the three central aspects of the tolerance process. Furthermore, tolerance implies that there must be something to tolerate, which means that it is important to discuss the question what sorts of things are the proper objects of tolerance. Additionally, tolerance can be considered an attitude, belief, virtue, action, or behaviour, and for being tolerant, one must be in a position to do so. Hence, in this chapter, various dimensions of tolerance and the importance of power relations will also be discussed.
