On the Chances of Ethnocultural Justice in East Central Europe

Abstract

A comment on Will Kymlicka's "Western Political Theory and Ethnic Relations in Eastern Europe" (2001) asserts that concepts of ethnocultural justice, public recognition, & accommodation of diversity are not novelties in Eastern Central Europe. Thus, it is contended that liberal-pluralist theory is not a revelation, but will have two key practical consequences: (1) Classical liberal teaching that speaks to ethnocultural neutrality might lead to majority aspirations & demagoguery & liberal canons might justify concepts equating majority with normalcy. (2) Liberal-pluralist concepts might provide a means to implement a policy of ethnocultural justice in the context of modern democracy. Three facets of ethnocultural justice are then identified: separate space for minorities, equitable sharing of public space, & neutralization of ethnic undercurrents & biases. The last facet is elaborated on in the context of former Yugoslavia before considering the Dayton Agreement as a lost opportunity for turning to Western liberal-pluralist political theory as a springboard to ethnocultural justice. It is concluded that the Eastern Central European experience demonstrates that ethnocultural neutrality & group-neutral regulation cannot accommodate cultural pluralism nor guarantee stable & peaceful ethnic majority-minority relations. Western liberal-pluralist theory eschews diversity & cannot provide viable models of accommodation & cohabitation in the context of ethnic pluralism. J. Zendejas