16 January 2008

"Against Multiculturalism"

"A truly plural society would be one in which citizens have full freedom to pursue their different values or practices in private, while in the public sphere all citizens would be treated as political equals whatever the differences in their private lives. Today, however, pluralism has come to mean the very opposite. The right to practice a particular religion, speak a particular language, follow a particular cultural practice is seen as a public good rather than a private freedom. Different interest groups demand to have their 'differences' institutionalised in the public sphere. And to enforce such a vision we have to call in the Thought Police.

Multiculturalism is an authoritarian, anti-human outlook. True political progress requires not recognition but action, not respect but questioning, not the invocation of the Thought Police but the forging of common bonds and collective struggles."

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I have in previous blogs misinterpreted what Kenan Malik is saying in his excellent essay Against Multiculturalism previously referred to in blogs.

He is against multiculturalism as he defines it.
He is not, as clear from the above, against "a truly plural society."

On the terms of the excellent essay "Against Multiculturalism" that he has written,
I must agree and say that I have to be against multiculturalism.
I agree with him.