Η πολυπολιτισμικότητα ως σύγχρονο πρόβλημα

Abstract

This article examines multiculturalism as both a theoretical and a practical problem. Multiculturalism becomes a problem when more than one culturally differentiated communities coexist within the framework of a single sociolegal order, wherein one has become numerically and/or organizationally predominant.
The article takes particular issue with the response of liberalism to the multicultural phenomenon.
The argument that liberalism (whether with minor amendments or not) is best suited to address multicultural demands is challenged. The reason is not only that liberalism is itself a certain conception of the good - and as such is bound to conflict with other conceptions. Genuine recognition amounts to the affirmation of the possibility that a cultural community may order its public sphere. Liberalism seemingly exhibits a higher degree of tolerance vis-à-vis multicultural demands. But this semblance is misleading; tolerance is granted only to the extent that cultural minorities forfeit their claim to order their public space exhaustively. In fact, liberalism tolerates multicultural demands only to the extent that minorities understand and practice cultural membership not as a fundamental existential choice, but as an individual preference devoid of larger significance. However, thus impoverished, cultural membership is hardly worth extra protection.