European inventory of
societal values of culture

Will Kymlicka - Multicultural Citizenship

Kymlicka, Will (1995). Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN: 0198279493

Kymlicka's book is an influential contribution to the discussion of how minority rights could be protected within contemporary liberal democracies. The author develops a theory of multicultural society that accommodates and respects the rights of minority groups while at the same time upholding the principles of liberal democracy. He manages to do so by proposing the concept of multicultural citizenship, which embraces cultural diversity but also promotes a shared sense of common values in a society. According to Kymlicka, such an approach to multiculturalism should not be perceived as a threat to social cohesion or national identity but rather as something that supports further democratic development. Although seemingly at odds with the traditional liberal notion of equal treatment for all individuals, granting cultural rights to minority groups in terms of language, education, religious practices, and self-government, can foster a sense of belonging and enable citizens from minority groups to fully participate in political and social life. The concept of ‘polyethnic rights’ is an important instrument in this endeavour, since it allows individual citizens to have multiple identities and affiliations and, on the other hand, also counts with their commitment to democratic principles.