Rethinking Multiculturalism

BHIKHU PAREKH is Professor in the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster, UK. He was Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics and before that for many years was Professor of Political Theory, University of Hull. A political theorist of international renown he has held visiting chairs at many of the top US universities as well as in Vienna and Barcelona. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Baroda and a member of India's University Grants Commission in the early 1980s. On his return to the UK he became Deputy Chairman and Acting Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality. He was chair of the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic. He was elected British Asian of the Year in 1992 and received the BBC's award for special lifetime achievement in 1999. He was awarded The Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize for lifetime contribution to political studies by the Political Studies Association in 2003.

Reviews of 1st edition: '[An] excellent book...admirable and enlightening and continuously insightful...' - Charles Taylor, Ethnicities 'The present book is a thoughtful and serious investigation into the timely problem of practical living in a multicultural society.' - Meghnad Desai, Times Higher Education Supplement '[B]rilliantly argued, rigorous, acute in its theoretical insights and persuasive in its practical suggestions...Rethinking Multiculturalism is sophisticated but also accessible; it really does force the most sceptical to 'rethink' a wide range of issues...even Parekh's fiercest critics will not be able to question the quality of the argument. All talk of multiculturalism tends to be fighting talk. Parekh is the heavyweight challenger.' - Stephen Howe, The Independent 'Parekh is fair, thoughtful, fastidious and inventive in his theorizing of multiculturalism, but his viewpoint is rooted in an attempt to understand and convey a non-Western outlook. While his approach is always balanced, his first impulse is to explain and, where defensible, defend viewpoints that Western liberals have traditionally found suspect. It is a strength of this work that Parkh not only develops a brilliantly conceived theory of multiculturalism, but applies that theory meaningfully to thorny policy questions. This is a truly important and original book.' - Benjamin Barber, Rutgers University '[A] vibrant tour de force...one of those rare seminal works that generate continuous scholarly discussion...generous praise and critiques.' - Ephraim Nimmi, Nations and Nationalism

• AcknowledgementsIntroductionMoral MonismForms of PluralismContemporary Liberal Responses to DiversityConceptualising CultureReconstituting the Modern StateThe Political Structure of Multicultural SocietyEquality in a Multicultural SocietyLogic of Intercultural EvaluationPolitics, Religion and Free SpeechConclusionA Response to My CriticsBibliography.