Book contents
- Majorities, Minorities, and the Future of Nationhood
- Majorities, Minorities, and the Future of Nationhood
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- A Note on the Cover
- 1 Majority–Minority Constellations
- 2 Are There Any Cultural Majority Rights?
- 3 Identity Not Culture
- 4 Nationhood, Multiculturalism, and the Ethics of Membership
- 5 Reconciling the Cultural Claims of Majorities and Minorities
- 6 Linking Minority Rights and Majority Attitudes
- 7 The Liberalism of Fear
- 8 Multiculturalism without Privileging Liberalism
- 9 Why Every Nation Should Nurture (a Thick and Inclusive) Nationalism
- 10 Populism and Cultural Majority Rights
- 11 Legitimate Populism and Liberal Overreach
- 12 The Causes of Populism and the Problem of Cultural Majority Rights
- Index
- References
3 - Identity Not Culture
Where Ethnic Majorities Are Disadvantaged
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 November 2022
Book contents
- Majorities, Minorities, and the Future of Nationhood
- Majorities, Minorities, and the Future of Nationhood
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- A Note on the Cover
- 1 Majority–Minority Constellations
- 2 Are There Any Cultural Majority Rights?
- 3 Identity Not Culture
- 4 Nationhood, Multiculturalism, and the Ethics of Membership
- 5 Reconciling the Cultural Claims of Majorities and Minorities
- 6 Linking Minority Rights and Majority Attitudes
- 7 The Liberalism of Fear
- 8 Multiculturalism without Privileging Liberalism
- 9 Why Every Nation Should Nurture (a Thick and Inclusive) Nationalism
- 10 Populism and Cultural Majority Rights
- 11 Legitimate Populism and Liberal Overreach
- 12 The Causes of Populism and the Problem of Cultural Majority Rights
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter argues that ethnic majorities are set to occupy an increasingly central place in discussions of ethno-political accommodation in western societies. These actors are not well captured by the liberal nationalism or multiculturalism paradigms, which were developed during a period of relative ethnic homogeneity. Ethnic majorities are, in my estimation, advantaged in politics, the economy and in official culture; but are disadvantaged when it comes to recognition of their ethnic identity and demographic malaise, criticism of their collective past, and the treatment of national symbols and narratives that are implicitly associated with them. An increasingly influential cultural left has sought to anathematize majority ethnic groups, which has contributed to populism and polarization as well as silencing important conversations. The cultural left has also engaged in a fallacy of composition by collapsing the distinction between majority group concern over the preservation of ethno-traditions with ethnic exclusion at the individual level. It has celebrated majority decline, producing profound alienation. In combination, this has prevented the recognition of liberal, absorptive ethnic majorities, contributing to our current moment in both political and intellectual terms.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Majorities, Minorities, and the Future of Nationhood , pp. 62 - 86Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
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