ABSTRACT

Modern societies are increasingly confronted with minority groups demanding recognition of their identity, and accommodation of their cultural differences. This is often phrased as the challenge of 'multiculturalism'. But the term 'multicultural' covers many different forms of cultural pluralism, each of which raises its own challenges. Immigrant groups and religious minorities could, in principle, seek the legal power to impose traditional cultural practices on their members. The former are intended to uphold liberal rights and democratic institutions, the latter restrict these rights in the name of cultural tradition or religious orthodoxy. The protection afforded by these common rights of citizenship is sufficient for many of the legitimate forms of diversity in society. Various critics of liberalism – including some Marxists, communitarians, and feminists – have argued that the liberal focus on individual rights reflects an atomistic, materialistic, instrumental, or conflictual view of human relationships.