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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewTo this reader at least, this lively debate volume shows very clearly that traditional liberalism, with its core principles of public neutrality and toleration, requires multiculturalism—the position laid out here by Peter Balint. Others will find in Patti Lenard`s 'political inclusion' model a new way of defending a more orthodox multiculturalism of minority rights. But the perhaps most powerful message of this book is the narrow range of disagreement on the necessity of multiculturalism in liberal-democratic societies. * Christian Joppke, University of Bern (Switzerland) *
Has multiculturalism failed, and if so, why has it failed? Lenard and Balint explore these questions while offering their positions for and against multiculturalism. Lenard justifies multiculturalism on the basis of political inclusion. Balint criticizes multiculturalism on the basis of liberal neutrality. The authors broadly agree about the ideals of liberal democracy and they both take minority rights seriously. But they disagree about the 'knowability' of culture, the application of multiculturalism to Indigenous peoples and national minorities, and the sources and risks of social fragmentation. Readers will find two cogent arguments and an illuminating debate that remind us why multicultural ideals are still worth defending and yet remain contested today. * Avigail Eisenberg, University of Victoria (Canada) *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Multiculturalism and Minority Rights Peter Balint & Patti Tamara Lenard PART I: Pro Multiculturalism Patti Tamara Lenard Chapter 1: Introduction to Part I Chapter 2: What is Culture? Why Political Inclusion? Chapter 3: Cultural Claims and Political Inclusion Chapter 4: Cultural Preservation and Multicultural Accommodation Chapter 5: Non-Interference and Political Inclusion Chapter 6: Shared Public Culture in Diverse States PART II: Against Multicultural Minority Rights Peter Balint Chapter 7: Introduction to Part II Chapter 8: We are All Neutralists Now! Chapter 9: Neutrality without Minority Rights Chapter 10: National Minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and Historical Injustice Chapter 11: Multiculturalism and the Demands on Citizens Chapter 12: Conclusion to Part II Part III: Responses Chapter 13: Response to Balint Culture not Colanders: Why Neutralism Fails to Respond Effectively to the Challenges of Cultural Diversity Patti Tamara Lenard Chapter 14: Response to Lenard Multiculturalism without Minority (or Majority) Rights Peter Balint