Culture and Equality

Brian Barry is Arnold A. Saltzman Professor, Department of Political Science and Department of Philosophy, Columbia University and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics.

• Preface viiiPart I Multiculturalism and Equal Treatment1 Introduction 31 Losing Our Way 32 The Flight from Enlightenment 93 A Brief Overview 172 The Strategy of Privatization 191 Cultural Diversity 192 Privatization and Pluralism 243 Equal Treatment 324 The Rule-and-Exemption Approach 405 A Pragmatic Case for Exemptions 506 Culture and Job Discrimination 543 The Dynamics of Identity: Assimilation, Acculturation and Difference 631 Vive la Difference? 632 Liberalism and the 'Ideal of Assimilation' 683 Assimilation: Good, Bad or Indifferent? 724 Varieties of National Identity 775 National Identity in Practice 816 The Dodo's Dictum 907 The 'Myth of Merit' 988 Language and Opportunity 103Part II Multiculturalism and Groups4 Theories of Group Rights 1121 The Concept of a Group Right 1122 Liberalism and Autonomy 1183 Liberalism and Diversity 1234 Cultural Relativism and Toleration 1315 Outline of a Theory of Group Rights 1465 Liberal States and Illiberal Religions 1551 The Claims of Free Association 1552 An Alternative Approach 1623 The Limits of Toleration 1654 In Defence of 'Asymmetry' 1695 The Amish and the State 1766 Are Amish Communities Voluntary Associations? 1876 The Public Stake in the Arts and Education 1941 The Limits of Laissez-Faire 1942 Can Liberalism Cope with Children? 1993 The Locus of Decision-Making 2054 Functional Education 2125 Education for Living 2216 Societal Interests in Education 2257 Multicultural Education 2338 Parental Rights in Education 238Part III Multiculturalism, Universalism and Egalitarianism7 The Abuse of 'Culture' 2521 'It's a Part of My Culture' 2522 Up the Creek in the Black Canoe 2583 The Equal Value of Cultures 2644 Does Equal Treatment Require Equal Value? 2715 The Limits of Conventionalism 2796 The Limits of Universalism 2848 The Politics of Multiculturalism 2921 The Curious Political Success of Multiculturalism 2922 Multiculturalism versus Democracy 2993 If Multiculturalism Is the Answer, What Was the Question? 3054 Culture versus Equality 317Notes 329Index 372

'Defenders of multiculturalism are called to task by the esteemed political philosopher Brian Barry in this critique of the "politics of difference". Barry argues that multiculturalist policies do not advance the values of liberty and equality but foster strident nationalism by focusing on what divides people at the expense of what unites them...' Audrey Stratham, Scotland on Sunday'Brian Barry, in [his] recent and controversial work on multiculturalism ... argues that contemporary multicultural practice, which stresses the rights and separateness of ethnic minority and other communities within nation states, harms those governments that are most committed to the provision of greater social justice - the central plank of new Labour.' John Lloyd, New Statesman 'A liberal, Robert Frost wrote, is someone who can't take his own side in an argument. The goal of Culture and Equality is to free liberals of their disabling scruples and in particular those deriving from those currently prevalent ideas that are variously called "multiculturalism" or the politics of "difference" or "recognition" or "identity" ... a defender of liberal principles who seeks confidently to take his own side in an argument must also be on the lookout for ideas and arguments that challenge their basis. Barry meets such challenges with assertion.' Times Literary Supplement 'In this robust, clear-headed and wide-ranging assault on the contemporary multiculturalist debate in political theory Barry takes few prisoners. He exposes much cant, wooly mindedness and confusion. He treads on many toes and makes few apologies, yet this is a deeply serious and important book.' European Sociological Review 'This is one of the most important books that I have read on the question of multiculturalism ... a very well-balanced book and one, which I would hope, will transform the debate about multiculturalism and equality.' Innovation - The European Journal of Social Science Research 'It is a trenchant, robust, vigorously and rigorously argued counterblast in the name of liberal egalitarianism against those, especially fellow egalitarian liberals, who defend the politics of multiculturalism. ... No short review can do full justice to the richness of Barry's book. It combines erudition, unabashed defence of liberalism, a passion for the point of liberal politics, and a finely tuned sensitivity to the idiocies of simple-minded multiculturalist apologetics. There are excellent discussions of, inter alia, education, "culture", the costs of group membership, and the free exercise of religion. David Archard, Contemporary Political Theory "This is an important and stimulating book that deserves to be pondered deeply." Andrew Wright, Studies in Philosophy and Education