Ethnicity and group rights
By: edited by Ian Shapiro and Will Kymlicka.
Contributors: Shapiro, Ian.; Kymlicka, Will.
Series: Nomos -- 39
Publisher: New York University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New York; London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 627
Subjects: Ethnicity -- Congresses.; Human rights -- Congresses.; Toleration -- Congresses.; Multiculturalism -- Congresses.
Description: Within Western political philosophy, the rights of groups have often been neglected or addressed in only the narrowest fashion. Focusing solely on whether rights are exercised by individuals or groups misses what lies at the heart of ethnocultural conflict, leaving central questions unanswered: Can the familiar system of common citizenship rights within liberal democracies sufficiently accommodate the legitimate interests of "ethnic" citizens?

How does membership in an ethnic group differ from other groups, such as professional, lifestyle, or advocacy groups? How important is ethnicity to personal identity and self-respect, and does accomodating these interests require more than standard citizenship rights? Perhaps most important, what forms of ethnocultural accomodations are consistent with democratic equality, individual freedom, and political stability?

Invoking numerous case studies and addressing the issue of ethnicity from a range of perspectives, Ethnicity and Group Rights seeks to answer these questions.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.

Based on presentations from the meeting of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy, held in conjunction with the Association of American Law Schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 1995.