Preface
Brian Barry is Arnold A. Saltzman Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Columbia University and winner of the 2001 Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science.
The goal of Culture and Equality is to free liberals of their
disabling scruples and in particular those deriving from…currently
prevalent ideas that are variously labeled ‘multiculturalism’ or
the politics of ‘difference’ or ‘recognition’ or ‘identity’… This
is applied political philosophy at its most magisterial.
*Times Literary Supplement*
Barry’s central claim is that defenders of multiculturalism
substitute confused assertion for systematic argument, and that
when they think they are liberals or egalitarians they are deluding
themselves and—more often than not—playing into the hands of their
more sophisticated adversaries. Culture and Equality is without
doubt the critique that defenders of multiculturalism will have to
answer. It is accessibly written and often brutally funny. It is
vintage Barry.
*Ian Shapiro, author of Democratic Justice*
The outstanding feature of this book is that it subjects a very
wide range of multicultural policies to critical scrutiny from an
egalitarian liberal perspective. Indeed, Barry goes further than
anyone else in showing just how tough-minded egalitarian liberals
should be when it comes to critically examining claims for special
rights and exemptions for cultural minorities. Throughout, Barry
insists on the primacy of equal rights for all individuals, and a
normative standard of fairness that can be shared by all.
*Stephen Macedo, author of Diversity and Distrust: Civic
Education and Multicultural Democracy*
The goal of Culture and Equality is to free liberals of
their disabling scruples and in particular those deriving
from...currently prevalent ideas that are variously labeled
'multiculturalism' or the politics of 'difference' or 'recognition'
or 'identity'... This is applied political philosophy at its most
magisterial. -- Steven Lukes * Times Literary Supplement *
Barry's central claim is that defenders of multiculturalism
substitute confused assertion for systematic argument, and that
when they think they are liberals or egalitarians they are deluding
themselves and-more often than not-playing into the hands of their
more sophisticated adversaries. Culture and Equality is
without doubt the critique that defenders of multiculturalism will
have to answer. It is accessibly written and often brutally funny.
It is vintage Barry. -- Ian Shapiro, author of Democratic
Justice
The outstanding feature of this book is that it subjects a very
wide range of multicultural policies to critical scrutiny from an
egalitarian liberal perspective. Indeed, Barry goes further than
anyone else in showing just how tough-minded egalitarian liberals
should be when it comes to critically examining claims for special
rights and exemptions for cultural minorities. Throughout, Barry
insists on the primacy of equal rights for all individuals, and a
normative standard of fairness that can be shared by all. --
Stephen Macedo, author of Diversity and Distrust: Civic
Education and Multicultural Democracy
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