Multiculturalism, Liberalism and Value Pluralism

Abstract

Is ‘liberal multiculturalism’ an oxymoron? Multiculturalists believe that when multiple cultural groups are present within a single political society, multiplicity is valuable and ought to be accorded positive political recognition. Many people would say that such a view fits well with the fundamental values of liberalism — notably the freedom of individuals to choose their own way of life. When that ideal is combined with the belief that the state has a legitimate role in actively promoting such freedom, the move from liberalism to multiculturalism would seem to be no great step.¹ Moreover, it is in liberal democracies (for example, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands), that multiculturalist policies have actually emerged.