(How) Can Multiculturalism Face Racial Injustice?

Abstract

In this chapter, I will attempt to assess the capacity of multiculturalism — as a theory of social justice — to provide fair terms of integration, not only to individuals, but also in its collective dimension; that is, when integration is concerned with social groups. More precisely, I shall evaluate the pertinence and fecundity of the multiculturalist theory, and of its arguments in favour of racial justice. I take the latter to be a nonideal theory of justice, addressing and fighting injustices such as those inequalities and effects of domination historically emerging from, and justified in terms of, ‘races’ and ‘racial groups’. Indeed, multiculturalist arguments have often been invoked as justification for policies against racism and racial discrimination (Sabbagh, 2007). Correspondingly, the objection that multiculturalism is neither the most appropriate political theory nor the most effective political practice for the achievement of racial justice is also now widespread, and has been used to defend heterogeneous positions (Barry, 2001; Appiah, 2005; Ford, 2005; Mills, 2007).