
The Liberal Archipelago
A Theory of Diversity and Freedom
Chandran Kukathas(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 25. October 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
306 pages
978-0-19-921920-9 (ISBN)
Description
In his major new work Chandran Kukathas offers, for the first time, a book-length treatment of this controversial and influential theory of minority rights. The work is a defence of a form of liberalism and multiculturalism. The general question it tries to answer is: what is the principled basis of a free society marked by cultural diversity and group loyalties? More particularly, it explains whether such a society requires political institutions which recognize minorities; how far it should tolerate such minorities when their ways differ from those of the mainstream community; to what extent political institutions should address injustices suffered by minorities at the hands of the wider society, and also at the hands of the powerful within their own communities; what role, if any, the state should play in the shaping of a society's (national) identity; and what fundamental values should guide our reflections on these matters. Its main contention is that a free society is an open society whose fundamental principle is the principle of freedom of association. A society is free to the extent that it is prepared to tolerate in its midst associations which differ or dissent from its standards or practices. An implication of these principles is that political society is also no more than one among other associations; its basis is the willingness of its members to continue to associate under the terms which define it. While it is an 'association of associations', it is not the only such association; it does not subsume all other associations. The principles of a free society describe not a hierarchy of superior and subordinate authorities but an archipelago of competing and overlapping jurisdictions. The idea of a liberal archipelago is defended as one which supplies us with a better metaphor of the free society than do older notions such as the body politic, or the ship of state. This work presents a challenge, and an alternative, to other contemporary liberal theories of multiculturalism.
Reviews / Votes
Review from previous edition ...as an illuminating challenge to contemporary liberalisms, this book succeeds admirably. * Perspectives on Politics 22/09/2004 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Scholars and students of Political Theory, Political Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, and Multiculturalism
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
468 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-921920-9 (9780199219209)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
06/2003
Oxford University Press
€155.30
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
06/2003
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€57.99
Available for download
Person
Chandran Kukathas is a professor of political theory. He completed his D.Phil at Oxford University in 1986. Prior to coming to the University of Utah, he taught in the School of Politics at University College, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. He has also taught at the Australian National University and Oxford University.
Author
School of Politics at the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy
Content
Introduction ; 1. The Liberal Archipelago ; 2. Human Nature and Human Interests ; 3. Freedom of Association and Liberty of Conscience ; 4. Liberal Toleration ; 5. Political Community ; 6. The Cultural Construction of Society ; Conclusion