Negotiating Diversity

Debates about cultural diversity have become an important, controversial and inescapable feature of the politics of modern democracies. Negotiating Diversity offers a lucid and accessible analysis of the political theory of multiculturalism. It is an ideal text for students looking for an overview of the state of play in this area.

The book explores the work of key political philosophers such as Kymlicka, Barry and Kukathas, and draws on a range of real-world examples to illustrate its arguments. It provides a critique of the tendency to reify cultural identity in political thinking, particularly through an examination of contemporary liberalism. In its place, the author develops a deliberative alternative, which views the politics of cultural diversity as a fallible process of negotiation, argument and compromise. He confronts objections that this alternative itself presupposes a homogenous political community, and that it offers an unrealistic or oppressive vision of politics.

Dedication.

Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

Chapter 1 - Approaches to Cultural Identification.

Chapter 2 - Culture and Normativity.

Chapter 3 - The Limits of Liberal Culturalism.

Chapter 4 - The Way of the World: Two Forms of Negative Universalism.

Chapter 5 - Cultural Accommodation and Political Dialogue.

Chapter 6 - Deliberative Trust: Ethos, Identity and Institutions.

Conclusion.

Notes.

References.

Index.

'Negotiating Diversity is surely one of the best introductions on the political theory of multiculturalism.'

JURA GENTIUM, Centro di filosofia del diritto internazionale e della politica globale

Matthew Festenstein is Reader in Politics at the University of Sheffield. Debates about cultural diversity have become an important, controversial and inescapable features of the politics of modern democracies. Negotiating Diversity offers a lucid and accessible analysis of the political theory of multiculturalism. It is an ideal text for students looking for an overview of the state of play in this area.

The book explores the ways the concept of culture has been used in political theory, and critically evaluates contemporary liberal responses to multiculturalism, including the work of key political philosophers such as Will Kymlicka, Brian Barry and Chandran Kukathas, drawing on a range of real-world examples to illustrate its arguments. It provides critique of the tendency to reify cultural identity in political thinking, particularly through an examination of contemporary liberalism. In its place, the author develops a deliberative alternative, which views the politics of cultural diversity as a fallible process of negotiation, argument and compromise. He confronts objections that this alternative itself offers an unrealistic or oppressive vision of politics, and explores the fragility of trust in the politics of multicultural societies.