Skip to main content

Multiculturalism

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Global Justice
  • 197 Accesses

Multiculturalism comprises a set of policies that address cultural and ethnic diversity. Today, over 200 million people live outside of their country of birth. Most states have diverse populations of immigrants and their descendants. Ethnic groups often campaign for exemptions or privileges to protect them from discrimination or to help them better integrate. Furthermore, many states contain national minorities or aboriginal groups that occupy significant parts of the territory. National minorities and aboriginal groups often demand self-government or even the right to secede to preserve their way of life.

Multiculturalism may lead us to re-evaluate basic issues of equality, rights, and democracy. Especially in the global context, these issues add to the debate on the nature and scope of justice. Does equality require differential treatment to recognize and respect minority groups? Are group rights – understood as something over and above the rights of a collection of individuals –...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 679.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Appiah A (2004) The ethics of identity. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Couture J, Nielsen K, Seymour M (eds) (1998) Rethinking nationalism. University of Calgary Press, Calgary

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutmann A (ed) (1992) Multiculturalism and the politics of recognition. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Ignatieff M (1993) Blood and belonging: journeys into the new nationalism. BBC Books, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivison D, Sanders W, Patton P (eds) (2000) Political theory and the rights of indigenous peoples. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka W (1995) Multicultural citizenship. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka W (2007) Multicultural odysseys. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Parekh Bhiku (2000) Rethinking multiculturalism. Harvard University Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this entry

Cite this entry

Sager, A. (2011). Multiculturalism. In: Chatterjee, D.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Justice. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9160-5_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9160-5_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-9159-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-9160-5

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Publish with us

Policies and ethics