Table of Contents

Preface

About the Author

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.

Reviews

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