The Future of Multicultural Britain: The Progressive Dilemma: Confronting the Progressive Dilemma - Hardcover

Pathik Pathak

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0748635440 ISBN 13: 9780748635443

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2008

Synopsis

This book identifies two key themes: that contemporary global politics has rendered many of the world's democracies susceptible to the rhetoric and policy of majoritarianism; and that majoritarianism plays on popular anxieties that invariably gravitate towards cultural identity. Britain and India are used as case studies to assess the role of political actors and intellectuals opposed to majoritarianism, examining how support for identity politics has debilitated resistance to it in both countries. Pathak challenges the conflation between state and philosophical multiculturalism and explains why the latter's attentiveness to identity is invaluable if we are to arrive at a nuanced and effective anti-majoritarian politics.The Left, historically reticent on such issues, has to ask important questions about how its political solidarities might engage with culture when the principles of multiculturalism are in crisis. The author suggests that the challenge for those who speak in opposition to majoritarianism lies with dismantling hierarchies of inherited and created culture, since it is only from this ground zero that a truly progressive agenda for citizenship and culture can be tabled.

About this title

About the Author

Pathik Pathak is a Research Officer at the CRUCIBLE Centre for Human Rights, Citizenship and Social Justice Education at the University of Roehampton.

From the Back Cover

The Future of Multicultural Britain Confronting the Progressive Dilemma Pathik Pathak Global politics are deeply affected by issues surrounding cultural identity. Profound cultural diversity has made national majorities increasingly anxious and democratic governments are under pressure to address those anxieties. Multiculturalism - once heralded as the insignia of a tolerant society - is now blamed for encouraging segregation and harbouring extremism. Pathik Pathak makes a convincing case for a new progressive politics that confronts these concerns. Drawing on fascinating comparisons between Britain and India, he shows how the global Left has been hamstrung by a compulsion for insular identity politics and a stubborn attachment to cultural indifference. He argues that to combat this, cultural identity must be placed at the centre of the political system. Written in a lively style, this book will engage anyone with an interest in the future of our multicultural society. Pathik Pathak is a Research Officer at the CRUCIBLE Centre for Human Rights, Citizenship and Social Justice Education at the University of Roehampton.

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0748635440
• ISBN 13: 9780748635443
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224