Discover

'Will Kymlicka' is a Canadian political philosopher. He is currently Professor of Philosophy and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Political Philosophy at Queen's University, and Recurrent Visiting Professor in the Nationalism Studies Program at the Central European University in Budapest.
He is a leader in the field of philosophy of multiculturalism. Kymlicka received his B.A. in philosophy and politics from Queen's University in 1984, and his D.Phil. in philosophy from Oxford University in 1987 under the direction of G.A. Cohen. He has written and edited several books on culture, race, minority language rights, and politics; these, and his other works have been extensively translated. He previously taught at a number of universities in Canada and the US and worked as an advisor to the Canadian Government.
One of his main concerns throughout his work is providing a liberal framework for the just treatment of minority groups, which he divides into two basic categories: polyethnic or immigrant groups, and national minorities (such as the Canadian Quebecois, or the Māori of New Zealand). He lists criteria for national minorities or "minority nations":
# present at founding;
# prior history of self-government;
# common culture;
# common language;
# governing selves through institutions.
By this criterion the two "minority nations" in Canada are the Aboriginal population and the Quebecois. Kymlicka argues that such minority groups deserve unique rights from the state by the nature of their unique role and history within the national population. Polyethnic groups, however, are less deserving of such rights, since they come to the state voluntarily and thus have some degree of responsibility to assimilate to the norms of their new nation. At the same time, Kymlicka acknowledges the problems faced by refugees, whether from conflict or poverty, and by such minority groups such as African-Americans (whose heritage in America clearly did not begin voluntarily).
In 'Multicultural Citizenship' (1995), Kymlicka argues that group-specific rights are consistent with liberalism, and are particularly appropriate, if not outright demanded, in certain situations. He defines three such group-specific rights: special group representation rights (such as affirmative action policies in politics); self-government rights; and polyethnic rights (such as the policy exempting Sikhs from having to wear motorcycle helmets).
A distinction that Kymlicka draws, which is crucial to his liberal defense of group-specific rights for minorities, is between external protection and internal restrictions. Kymlicka argues that external protections between groups may be justified in order to promote equality (though they must not allow for oppression or exploitation, as in apartheid in South Africa). Internal restrictions, however, cannot be justified from a liberal perspective, insofar as they restrict a person's autonomy, though they may be granted in certain cases to national minorities.
Will Kymlicka is just one Canadian scholar who writes on Canadian multiculturalism. Some of Kymlicka's Canadian contemporaries include two world renowned philosophers, Charles Taylor and James Tully, as well as political scientist Avigail Eisenberg.

Contents

Awards

Selected publications

See also

External links

Awards

★ 2004, awarded the Killam Prize by the Canada Council for the Arts

Selected publications

★ Multiculturalism, and the Welfare State'' (Ethics & International Affairs, Volume 20.3 ''Fall 2006'')

★ ''Politics in the Vernacular: Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Citizenship'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-19-924098-1

★ ''Finding Our Way: Rethinking Ethnocultural Relations in Canada'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998). ISBN 0-19-541314-8

★ ''Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995). ISBN 0-19-829091-8

★ ''Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990/2001). ISBN 0-19-878274-8

★ ''Liberalism, Community, and Culture'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989/1991). ISBN 0-19-827871-3

See also

★ Liberalism

★ Contributions to liberal theory

External links

★ Home Page

★ Resources from Carnegie Council
: