Rethinking Multiculturalism

This important and much acclaimed book rapidly became a classic on first publication. In it, Bhikhu Parekh shows that the Western tradition of political philosophy has very limited theoretical resources to cope with cultural diversity. He then discusses how it can be revised and what new conceptual tools are needed. The core of the book addresses the important theoretical questions raised by contemporary multicultural society, especially the nature and limits of intercultural equality and fairness, national identity, citizenship, and cross-cultural political discourse. The new second edition includes a substantial additional chapter addressing key issues.

BHIKHU PAREKH is Professor in the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster, UK.

Acknowledgements Introduction Moral Monism Forms of Pluralism Contemporary Liberal Responses to Diversity Conceptualising Culture Reconstituting the Modern State The Political Structure of Multicultural Society Equality in a Multicultural Society Logic of Intercultural Evaluation Politics, Religion and Free Speech Conclusion A Response to My Critics Bibliography.