ACCEPT Pluralism Tolerance Pluralism and Social Cohesion Tariq

ACCEPT Pluralism Tolerance, Pluralism and Social Cohesion Tariq Modood Jan Dobbernack Nasar Meer

How tolerant are European societies? Tolerance, recognition and respect • Is there a right to ‘recognition’ or ‘respect’? • Different minority groups: multiple of claims for recognition/respect • The value of tolerance: ‘moral minimalism’? Intolerance, misrecognition and disrespect • Themes: ‘muscular liberalism’, ‘the end of passive tolerance’, ‘too much diversity’ • Minority agency in response to non-acceptance

The Concept of Misrecognition Recognition ‘undistorted’ and ‘dialogical’ identity formation: a ‘vital human need’ When a group puts forward a demand for recognition they seek to disclose the misrecognition … in the existing rule of mutual recognition…, to persuade others it is unjust and intolerable, and to display a preferred alternative. James Tully Taking the concept of misrecognition as the point of departure focuses our attention on the objects of, and processes of, misrecognition; by its nature it mitigates the excesses of abstraction and [provides for a more] contextual approach Meer, Martineau and Thompson Misrecognition - a condition that is usually not passively endured but that invites political agency

Actors at the General Election 2010

Misrecognition and Political Agency M 1: M 2: M 3: M 4: M 5: Misrecognising Muslim identity politics as markedly different in kind to other identity politics Misrecognising the dynamic positioning and complexity of Muslim identities and concern Misrecognising Muslim agency as purely reactive, grievance-based or ‘pariah politics’ Misrecognising Muslim concerns as sectarian and incompatible with an orientation towards the ‘common good’ Misrecognising Muslim political actors as toxic and refusing political association

A Muslim Vote? The concept condenses and generalises and homogenises something that I think is a much more complex phenomenon. Engage The Muslim voter, like any other Briton, may well make discerning choices of which their ‘Muslim identity’, if ever there was one, is only a part of a menu of considerations. Muslim Council of Britain Desire not to be boxed in but resistance against individualization of group concerns? Strategic potentials of group representation There is a great deal of diversity amongst Muslim communities, always in the plural rather than singular. Muslim Public Affairs Committee

The politics of representation We’re not just saying: more Muslim MPs. What we’re saying is that non-Muslim MPs also need to address the concerns of their Muslim constituents. Muslim Public Affairs Committee The Muslim community is issue-based, and not religion based. Youelect We don’t need a Muslim party, we’re calling for Muslims to be part of society, I don’t want them to stand on one side We have a party that’s beginning to look like the people it serves and yet …. equality was further and further away. Multiculturalism was being trashed. Cordoba Foundation Operation Black Vote

Neutrality and ‘radioactive effects’ People feel empowered through Youelect but we made sure that we didn’t encroach on their personal political space … [but] we feel that there are some really very bad candidates and regardless of where they stand on the playing field, they are really, really bad candidates. Youelect We do everything in terms of raising issues, but stop short of saying who to put in their ballot box. It’s more service facilitation. You make up your own mind. Muslim Council of Britain We’re not asking for their endorsement. We’re endorsing them. Muslim Public Affairs Committee Maneuvering in how to associate with / dissociate from mainstream parties and candidates Strategic benefits but also limitations of neutrality

Misrecognition and political agency While Muslims come under collective attack [they] can only defend themselves and fight for their rights as individuals? ! Cordoba Foundation When politicians are looking around for a Muslim voice, they’re all automatically confronted with Muslim voices. Engage The Muslim voter, like any other Briton, may well make discerning choices Muslim Council of Britain Oppositionality Sophistication Multiplication

Kris Hopkins MP http: //www. krishopkins. co. uk Sunder Katwala http: //www. britishfuture. org/ Fiyaz Mughal http: //faith-matters. org The Politics of Religious Diversity