Tuesday 12 February 2008

Opening Pandora's Box

Congratulations go to the Archbishop of Canterbury for opening the Pandora's Box of our time: what it means to be a multicultural society.

A lot of fluffy nonsense has been spoken about multiculturalism in recent years, partly through ignorance. For many of those who employ the term prefer to use it as a catch-all for feelgood liberal inclusiveness while overlooking what the logic of applied multiculturalism means in practice.

Wikipedia defines multiculturalism as a "de facto state of both cultural and ethnic diversity within the demographics of a particular social space" - merging it with the concept of pluralism tout court.

Yet rather than simply referring to the existence of diverse cultural groups, official multiculturalism policies "aim at preserving the cultures or cultural identities - usually those of immigrant groups - within a unified society. In this context, multiculturalism advocates a society that extends equitable status to distinct cultural and religious groups, no one culture predominating".

Although this seems a straightforward desire for mutual respect at face value, in reality it is anything but. If no one culture predominates then it makes it very difficult to argue for 'one law for all' as the Home Secretary has repeatedly done.

For Britain's Laws (many of them ancient), as Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali has rightly said, derive from Judeo-Christian principles for all the 'secular' spin that is put on them. Thus, in a truly 'multicultural society' they must be considered culturally biased rather than neutral, and thus open to opposition from other communities.

This in turn throws into relief what it means for something to have a universal value. Human Rights, for example, are often claimed to be fundamental and indivisible - acting as the framework around which all legal systems should be constructed.
Yet the concept of Human Rights derives from certain channels of thought which, while not necessarily 100% Western in origin (and here I doff my hat to Amartya Sen's critiques), certainly does not have a universal provenance. Hence one reason that the OIC drew up its own 'Islamic Bil of Human Rights' back in the day.
If we are prepared to admit that multiculturalism entails "equitable status to distinct cultural and religious groups" then our cultural relativism must extend as far as this framework of first principles, if policy making is to be coherent. Which leaves little to nothing that can be deemed suitable for legislation for society at large, based even on the principle of reasonable pluralism.

Of course, there is one further problem with a policy which requires every cultural community to make its own rules - schism and minority viewpoints. Every culture, every organisation, no matter how small, has its renegades, its leaders, and its followers. Thus the question of who makes the rules and who is bound by them is crucial.

Too often, experience across all religions shows that elderly bearded men have the monopoly on this position, giving others little say in writing the rule book. If a completely homogenous group cannot be defined it will be difficult to make legitimate law on all of their behalfs.

Not only is Sharia neither static nor homogenous (as the Archbishop acknowledges) but different schools of fiqh have differing interpretations of what it requires, to which individual Muslims adhere.
Indeed some scholars like Tariq Ramadan believe that even the shariat provisions on which these schools agree cannot be implemented because today's conditions are unlike those of the umma in the time of the prophet - poverty, for example, could be an excuse for stealing while at that time social organisation meant no one was without sufficient food - so the debate is entirely hypothetical.
And then there is the question of dissenters. The Archbishop says that those who decide to pursue justice through Sharia Councils (as in Jewish courts or Somali customary courts) must agree with the punishment meted out or their case will be referred to the Supreme Court.

Yet this is simply one more example of multicultural window dressing which is logically incoherent. If the whole point is respecting the equality of different cultural traditions it is clearly absurd to put British Law on a pedestal.
If the point is giving people choice it could well turn to the advantage of the strong, as it gives plaintiffs the opportunity to pick the version of justice which suits their interests - and pressurise the weak into accepting decisions for cultural reasons, as Earthquake Cove correctly points out in this post.

So we have a choice: either package people as community members and leave it up to their communities to dispense justice - or acknowledge we are all members of one society so we must live under one set of rules which (while open to discussion and debate) must be applied to all, with few exceptions, as is currently the case.

The truth of the matter is that the Archbishop's comments on the place of Sharia in Britain simply reflect what is already happening, since Sharia Councils, like other advisory bodies, seek solutions on non-criminal matters pertaining to their faith which, if disputed, go straight to the high court. That's what he means when he says it is an already accepted part of Britain's legal-political landscape.
What is problematic is not this kind of culturally-sensitive problem solving but the concept of parallel legal systems which is what multiculturalism entails.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like what you guys are usually up too.
This kind of clever work and exposure! Keep up the excellent works guys
I've incorporated you guys to my own blogroll.
Also see my web site - OnlyCruiser.com

Anonymous said...

It's going to be end of mine day, except before ending I am reading this impressive piece of writing to increase my knowledge.
Here is my weblog : Financial Advisor

Anonymous said...

Malaysia & Singapore & brunei best online blogshop for wholesale & supply korean accessories, accessories, earstuds, choker,
rings, bracelet, trinket & hair add-ons. Deal 35 % wholesale rebate. Ship Worldwide
Also see my page :: La Fiesta Condo

Anonymous said...

Malaysia & Singapore & brunei greatest on-line blogshop for wholesale &
supply korean accessories, earrings, earstuds, locket,
rings, hair, bangle & bracelet accessories.

Promotion 35 % wholesale discount. Ship Worldwide
Here is my weblog :: charge and play xbox 360 pc

Anonymous said...

Malaysia & Singapore & brunei ideal internet blogshop for wholesale & quantity korean add-ons, accessories, earstuds, necklace, rings, bracelet, bracelet & hair
accessories. Deal 35 % wholesale discount. Ship Worldwide
Also visit my blog post ; cientificamente validados

Anonymous said...

Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how could i subscribe
for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
Feel free to visit my web-site :: neck pain

Anonymous said...

I have learn a few good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.

I wonder how a lot attempt you set to create any such excellent informative site.
Also visit my blog - Youtube video ranking

Anonymous said...

Have you ever considered creating an ebook or guest
authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same information you discuss and would love
to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would enjoy your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.
Feel free to surf my web blog cheap iPhone 5 for sale online

Anonymous said...

Wow, this paragraph is pleasant, my sister is analyzing these kinds of things, thus
I am going to convey her.
My web site ; DSL Anbieter

Anonymous said...

Very good post! We are linking to this particularly great article on our
website. Keep up the great writing.

Review my webpage: salt lake city locksmith

Anonymous said...

Thank you for any other informative site. The place else may I am getting that kind
of information written in such a perfect manner? I've a challenge that I am simply now running on, and I've been on the glance out for such info.



my website :: pasang iklan

Anonymous said...

Wonderful article! We are linking to this great article on our site.
Keep up the good writing.

My web page ... pasang iklan

Anonymous said...

I really like it when individuals get together and share opinions.
Great site, stick with it!

My web-site ... pasang iklan gratis

Anonymous said...

These are in fact fantastic ideas in regarding blogging.

You have touched some good factors here. Any way keep up wrinting.


Also visit my blog post - Spazio Kovan

Anonymous said...

I think the admin of this web page is really working hard in favor of his web page, because here every information is quality
based information.

Also visit my web-site: Spazio Kovan

Anonymous said...

I do not know whether it's just me or if perhaps everybody else experiencing problems with your blog. It looks like some of the written text in your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them too? This could be a issue with my browser because I've had this happen
previously. Thank you

Stop by my homepage; fuck xxx

Anonymous said...

Wow, amazing blog structure! How lengthy have you been blogging for?

you made blogging look easy. The entire look of your web site is magnificent,
as well as the content material!

Also visit my web-site :: webcam sex

Anonymous said...

I'm now not positive the place you are getting your information, however great topic. I needs to spend a while learning much more or figuring out more. Thank you for great info I was in search of this info for my mission.

My web site - http://www.cfnmfever.net

Anonymous said...

I'm gone to say to my little brother, that he should also visit this web site on regular basis to obtain updated from hottest reports.

Here is my web page ... http://sexvideovoyeur.com

Anonymous said...

Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam comments?
If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?
I get so much lately it's driving me insane so any help is very much appreciated.

Here is my blog post ... http://www.wildpartygirls.org

Anonymous said...

Hi there every one, here every one is sharing
these knowledge, thus it's good to read this webpage, and I used to pay a visit this webpage daily.

Feel free to visit my homepage cuteteenporn.net

Anonymous said...

Nice answers in return of this question with
firm arguments and describing all concerning that.

Here is my blog - free tube pornography