Multiculturalism and moral conflict

Abstract

Multiculturalism is higher on the daily political agenda in Europe and North America than it has ever been. Leading politicians and public commentators speak with an unparalleled bluntness about the perceived limitations of multiculturalism while representatives of cultural, minorities express concern about marginalisation. This timely intervention in the debate explores the moral dilemmas underlying the challenge posed by multiculturalism . The contributors seek to confront the reality of moral conflict in the debate on multiculturalism while resisting the simplification which too frequently accompanies daily commentary on both sides of an increasingly polarised debate. The volume as a whole marks an important step in the attempt to examine the underlying concepts and issues, including the challenge to core liberal values, the moral significance of culture, the nature and legitimate extent of disagreement, the nature of secularism, the implications for our understanding of the state and citizenship, which inevitably constitute key assumptions in the debate.