Multiculturalism has been subject to backlashes across democratic states. These voices argue that after years of accommodation, minorities have failed to integrate and ought to be encouraged more forcefully to abandon norms and values that are in tension with those of their broader society. In this context, Debating Multiculturalism brings together two prominent scholars of the political theory of multiculturalism. Both agree with the need for minority accommodation in liberal democracies, but disagree on the pathway forward. Patti Tamara Lenard argues that multiculturalism must be robustly de ... More

Multiculturalism has been subject to backlashes across democratic states. These voices argue that after years of accommodation, minorities have failed to integrate and ought to be encouraged more forcefully to abandon norms and values that are in tension with those of their broader society. In this context, Debating Multiculturalism brings together two prominent scholars of the political theory of multiculturalism. Both agree with the need for minority accommodation in liberal democracies, but disagree on the pathway forward. Patti Tamara Lenard argues that multiculturalism must be robustly defended. Lenard argues that the accommodation of cultural and religious practices is key to achieving substantive political inclusion in democratic states. Rather than generating segregation and separation, the accommodation of such practices ensures that minorities can participate across multiple domains of politics as equal citizens. She examines claims for cultural preservation, too, and argues that an emphasis on political inclusion can explain why preservationist claims should be respected. In contrast, Peter Balint argues against the need for minority rights in multicultural contexts. Balint defends a radical form of neutrality, “active indifference,” which can achieve the accommodation of minority ways of life, without recourse to minority rights. He argues that if the problem arises because of a favoring of majority ways of life, then rather than add minority rights as a solution, majority privilege should simply be removed. This solution is not only fairer, but avoids many of the problems that have plagued minority rights. The book concludes with both authors critiquing each other’s positions.