Challenges of Pluralism

Module description

Contemporary democratic societies are characterized by pluralism. Pluralism can be seen as an enriching and essential component of a genuine liberal democracy. Often, however, pluralism is (rightly or wrongly) perceived as a threat to democratic, liberal and egalitarian values. In contemporary political thinking, different concepts, such a toleration and recognition, have been used to confront challenges of pluralism. Is the concept of “toleration” enough to address the demands of pluralist societies or these demands call for “recognition” of, say, cultural and religious difference? And, when it comes to dealing with undemocratic, illiberal and inegalitarian values and political ideologies, can the concepts of toleration and recognition be useful at all? In other words, should we recognise or even tolerate what seems to be intolerable?

In this module, we will address these question and discuss which responses should be given to the challenges that different kinds of pluralism posit. We will do so by focusing on some pressing issues of pluralism, such as problems of religious accommodation, multicultural difference, same-sex marriage, freedom of speech, far-right politics and migration. Moreover, we will explore how the very ideas of “toleration” and “recognition” are vehemently contested by some not only as inadequate responses to the challenges of pluralism but also as tools of domination and “colonization”.

Module Objectives

The main objective is to encourage students to think critically about the assistance that political theory can provide, as well as the difficulties it can encounter, when it concerns itself with ‘real world’ challenges of pluralism. Students will also develop their skills in research, textual analysis, the evaluation of arguments, and the presentation of ideas both orally and in written form.

Preliminary Reading

• Michael Walzer, On Toleration (Yale University Press)
• Susan Mendus, Toleration and the Limits of Liberalism (Macmillan)
• Wendy Brown, Regulating Aversion: Tolerance in the Age of Identity and Empire (Princeton University Press)

Assessment

One essay of 4000 words (100% of total mark).