Ethnocentric Political Theory: The Pursuit of Flawed Universals

Description

Western political theory has many great strengths but also a few weaknesses. Among the latter should be included its ethnocentricity, its tendency to universalize the local. The political theorist makes universal statements about human beings, societies and states without making a close study of them, and about reason, tradition, human nature and moral ideals without appreciating how differently these are understood in different societies and traditions. These statements are often an uncritical universalisation of his society’s modes of thought and experience. This book traces this tendency in different areas of moral and political life, and argues that a critical engagement between different perspectives offers one possible way to counter this tendency. Seeking universally valid knowledge is a legitimate ambition, but Western political theory cannot realise it without the help of the non-Western as its critical interlocutor. Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introduction (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 1-21 The Concept of Rights (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 23-39 Human Rights and Moral Pluralism (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 41-58 Reason and Identity (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 59-71 Regulating Hate Speech (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 73-94 A Misconceived Discourse on Political Obligation (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 95-114 Liberal Democracy and National Minorities (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 115-129 A Critique of the Liberal Approach to Violence (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 131-142 Understanding Humiliation (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 143-160 Reflections on Multiculturalism (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 161-185 Common Belonging (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 187-201 A Multicultural Perspective on Secularism (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 203-219 Cultural Accommodation and the Criminal Law (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 221-234 Ethnocentricity of the Nationalist Discourse (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 235-261 Religious Tolerance in a Comparative Perspective (Bhikhu Parekh)....Pages 263-284 Back Matter ....Pages 285-290