Multicultural Citizenship

The increasingly multicultural fabric of modern societies has given rise to many new conflicts, as ethnic minorities and national minorities demand recognition and support for their cultural identity. This text presents a new conception of the rights and status of minority cultures. Will Kymlicka argues that certain sorts of "collective rights" for minority cultures are consistent with liberal democratic principles and that standard liberal objections to such rights on the grounds of individual freedom, social justice, and national unity can be answered. However, he emphasizes that no single formula can be applied to all groups, and that the needs and aspirations of immigrants are very different from those of indigenous peoples and national minorities. The book is intended for scholars and students of political theory, political philosophy and jurisprudence as well as policy analysts working on minority rights.