Description
Book SynopsisMaintaining that cultures are themselves torn by conflicts about their own boundaries, this book challenges the assumption shared by many theorists and activists that cultures are clearly defined wholes. It offers insight to those who strive to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of cultural politics in the twenty-first century.
Trade Review"Seyla Benhabib's book presents a subtly defined, vigorously argued universalist position in democratic theory, one that nevertheless accommodates (and essentially integrates) varieties of multiculturalism. It is especially notable for going beyond the trite oppositions between the politics of cultural identity and the theory of deliberative democracy." - Amelie Rorty, Brandeis University; "Reading this book was a deeply satisfying experience. Benhabib's model of democracy is firmly rooted in a systematic and well-developed moral theory, and her policy recommendations are informed both by extensive philosophical reflection and by her uncompromising commitment to individual identity." - Alison Jaggar, University of Colorado
Table of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgments xv 1. Introduction On the Use and Abuse of Culture 1 2. "Nous" et les "Autres" (We and the Others) Is Universalism Ethnocentric? 24 3. From Redistribution to Recognition? The Paradigm Change of Contemporary Politics 49 4. Multiculturalism and Gendered Citizenship 82 5. Deliberative Democracy and Multicultural Dilemmas 105 6. Who are "We"? Dilemmas of Citizenship in Contemporary Europe 147 7. Conclusion What Lies beyond the Nation-State? 178 Notes 187 Bibliography 215 Index 231
