Political Science 3334E Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Jeremy Waldron, Polyethnicity, Chandran Kukathas
17 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Proposes an entirely new liberal framework for considering the claims of ethnic and national minorities. Liberals can only endorse minority rights in so far as they are consistent with respect for the freedom or autonomy of individuals: so must promote and be consistent with individual freedom. Specific rights: immigrant groups polyethnic rights to facilitate assimilation, societal cultures a stronger form of group rights such as self-government. Jeremy waldron: cultural membership is not essential and therefore should not be subject to political protection, cosmopolitan life life free of cultural attachment. It is only insofar as one exists within a society that encourages the proliferation of cultural identities that one can claim independence from any culture whatsoever. There are no group rights, only individual rights: by granting cultural groups special protections and rights, the state oversteps its role, which is to secure civility, and risks undermining individual rights of association.
