Restrictions of multiculturalism

MULTICULTURALISM:

DO CULTURAL RIGHTS OVERWEIGH HUMAN RIGHTS?

1. Comparison of the main ideological models seen in class: Common aspects. Which one is more influential today?

Despite the differences between the various socio-political models proposed by the authors we have studied, there is a common denominator to all of them. These models emerged largely in response to already existing ones, as alternative methods of social organization. While some of these models are presented by the authors as the only effective form of organization, superior to the other alternatives, other theories only seek to reflect the various social factors that define a group of individuals from the rest, and provide the theoretical framework appropriate so as these groups and their values can be properly recognized.

Regarding the second question, we can assert without a trace of doubt that all models of social organization seen in class are being put into practice today. The range is wide; from nationalist movements, to Islamic radicalism opposed to Western doctrine, or indigenous theories, among others. Each model is actually welcome in certain regions throughout the world, and in most of the cases, it has been adopted in these regions as the sole valid and prevailing social theory (each model only considers as valid its own reality). So we could say that in a way, almost all of these organizational models are aspiring to become the leading global social theory.(perhaps not all of them, since we couldn´t say that, for instance, a romantic nationalist supporter intends to apply his/her ideas worldwide, but just to make certain claims concerning the national sphere.)

However, the socioeconomic model par excellence, present in almost all of the contemporary world is Friedman's economic liberalism, which advocates capitalism without government control. This theory has spread across the world, which has progressively adapted to the canons of Western society´s capitalism. From the economic model (which postulates that true individual freedom is obtained through free market) derive various deregulation policies implemented by major world governments in recent years, which have resulted in an enormous autonomy and power seized by the banks. This model was, perhaps, one of the main causes of the 2008 economic crisis, still ongoing nowadays. The most surprising thing (well, actually is not that surprising) is that, in spite of this fact, it still remains as the most relevant socio-economic model in the world.

2. LIMITS OF MULTICULTURALISM: DO CULTURAL RIGHTS OVERWEIGH HUMAN RIGHTS?

UP TO WHAT POINT DOES MULTICULTURALISM JUSTIFY CERTAIN CUSTOMS AND BEHAVIORS OF SPECIFIC COLLECTIVES AND ETHNIC GROUPS, WHICH MIGHT EVEN THREATEN HUMAN RIGHT´S CHARTER? WHICH ARE THE LIMITS OF MULTICULTURALISM?

The descriptive aspect of the term Multiculturalism is usually related to the various ethnic and immigration flows within a country, while at the normative realm, Multiculturalism refers to a school of thought that considers the right way to deal with such elements. According to Sarah Song, a professor of law at Berkley Law University of California, "it is a body of thought [...] about the proper way to respond to culture and religious diversity "

This doctrine is based on the principles of respect and accommodation of different cultural minorities (not just mere tolerance). And in the principle of Will Kymlicka of "group-Differentiated rights ", which refers to the different rights of the diverse cultural minorities. This principle, far from contradicting the liberal principle of equality, actually complements it; according to Kymlicka, a cultural community provides its inhabitants"“with a range of options about how to lead [their] lives, as well as the means to evaluate the relative worth of those options ". That is, minority cultural communities determine and define individual autonomy of its inhabitants. So much so that the rights of cultural minorities are directly linked to Human Rights, according to the UNESCO Charter on Cultural Diversity. The question is: What happens when a particular ethnic group employs such rights, and refers to religious and cultural traditions and ethnic particularities to commit acts of questionable morality, and even Human Rights violations, towards its own members or others? Up to what extent Multiculturalism justify the systematic violation of these rights?

Which are the limits of Multiculturalism, then?

In accordance with section 4 of the UNESCO Charter on Cultural Diversity, "Human Rights as Guarantees of cultural diversity ”: "No One shall invoke diversity to infringe upon culture Human Rights guaranteed by international law, nor to limit their scope". However, these guidelines are not always followed. Human Rights are systematically breached in many regions of the world, under the claim that those violations are part of their cultural tradition.

I will refer to the most obvious example that I came up, that of Saudi Arabia, which practices a stream of Islam known as Sunni Islam. It is characterized by applying the Sharia, (the Islamic legal code) literally, basing its laws on religious precepts drawn primarily from the Quran and Sunnah (sayings often associated to the prophet Muhammad). In this country, women are considered second class citizens and are subjugated to their husbands by religious imperative, being turned into mere objects in the hands of men (there male polygamy is a common practice, and husbands may have several wives).

Among other restrictions, women are “forced to hide their beauty to those who are not maharim ” (close relatives). According to the Sharia, adultery is punishable by death, in the case of women, and a severe punishment (though far lesser than death) to men.

In case of violation, the blame falls entirely on the woman, who has somehow “tempted her violator". Their freedom outside the home is completely subject to the man, up to the point that driver women are sentenced to ten lashes if they are ever arrested driving, since it is strictly forbidden for them to do so.

The most notable example of this religious sexism in this country is that of the fourteen girls who died during a fire at the school, on March 15, 2002.

According to Los Angeles Post report of the tragedy, "when the girls tried to flee the fire without first making sure they were fully covered with scarves and abayas - the black robes women are required to wear in Accordance with Saudi Arabia's interpretation of Islam- -religious police [Mutaween] beat many of the girls back Toward the burning

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