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Background and planBackground and planof the projectof the project

Multiculturalism, Religion andMulticulturalism, Religion and

the Foundations of Moralitythe Foundations of Moralityin Contemporary Political Philosophyin Contemporary Political Philosophy

ReSET-project 2007-10ReSET-project 2007-10

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Background of the projectBackground of the project

TheThe acceleratingaccelerating process of globalization is in-process of globalization is in-

creasingly making societies highly multi-creasingly making societies highly multi-

cultural and pluralisticcultural and pluralistic

In the West as well as the target region.In the West as well as the target region.

Multiculturalism is at the top of the agendaMulticulturalism is at the top of the agenda

today in the media and in current public,today in the media and in current public,political and academic debate.political and academic debate.

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Background of the projectBackground of the project

Prominent examples:Prominent examples:

Huntingtons Clash of civilizationsHuntingtons Clash of civilizations

The Danish cartoon-crisis,The Danish cartoon-crisis, The Satanic VersesThe Satanic Verses

Fundamentalist terrorismFundamentalist terrorism

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Background of the projectBackground of the project

The accelerated process of globalisation andThe accelerated process of globalisation and

multiculturalisation ismulticulturalisation is challenging classicalchallenging classical

liberal democratic thinkingliberal democratic thinking::

Challenging the standard assumption thatChallenging the standard assumption that

liberal statesliberal states areare culturally neutralculturally neutral

Challenging difference-blind theories of theChallenging difference-blind theories of the

just society, democracy and individual rightsjust society, democracy and individual rights

A theoretical need for rethinking theories A theoretical need for rethinking theories

perhapsperhaps a politics of recognition or a politicsa politics of recognition or a politics

of difference?of difference?

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Multiculturalism in teachingMulticulturalism in teaching

A need for introducing new curricula on the topicA need for introducing new curricula on the topic

at undergraduate levelat undergraduate level

Topical issues are particularly good for teachingTopical issues are particularly good for teachingat undergraduate levelat undergraduate level

Possibility of referring to concrete examples andPossibility of referring to concrete examples and

current events in the mediacurrent events in the media

Perceived as relevant by the students hencePerceived as relevant by the students hence

motivatingmotivating

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Multiculturalism in teachingMulticulturalism in teaching

Aim: Focus on teaching methods that encourageAim: Focus on teaching methods that encourage

student participation and critical thinkingstudent participation and critical thinking

Inter-sessional and intra-sessional activityInter-sessional and intra-sessional activityrelating to teaching methodsrelating to teaching methods

Teaching portfoliosTeaching portfolios

Participants development of newParticipants development of new

curricula/syllabicurricula/syllabi

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Two senses ofTwo senses ofmulticulturalismmulticulturalism

1.1. Descriptive/empiricalDescriptive/empirical AA societysociety is multicultural when itis multicultural when it as a matter oas a matter of

factfact incorporates different nations (typicallincorporates different nations (typicallyindigenous or defeated peoples) or different ethnicindigenous or defeated peoples) or different ethnic

groups (typically due to immigration).groups (typically due to immigration).

4.4. NormativeNormative

AA policy or set of moral-political norms policy or set of moral-political norms can becan be

multicultural in the sense that it involves the moralmulticultural in the sense that it involves the moralbelief that (group-)rightsbelief that (group-)rights ought to beought to be accorded toaccorded toindividuals in virtue of their belonging to a culturalindividuals in virtue of their belonging to a culturalgroup.group.

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Cross disciplinary cooperationCross disciplinary cooperation

Normative political philosophyNormative political philosophy

History of political philosophyHistory of political philosophy

Political sciencePolitical science

The study of religionThe study of religion

History of intercultural, interreligious, interethnicHistory of intercultural, interreligious, interethnic

dialogue (case-studies)dialogue (case-studies)

Sociology of intercultural, interreligious,Sociology of intercultural, interreligious,interethnic dialogueinterethnic dialogue

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Progression Progression Summer 2007Summer 2007

Multiculturalism and Intercultural Dialogue: HistoryMulticulturalism and Intercultural Dialogue: Historyand Contemporary Perspectives.and Contemporary Perspectives.

Providing an overview of the topics of theProviding an overview of the topics of the

schoolschool Political philosophy: liberal-communitarianPolitical philosophy: liberal-communitarian

debate, contemporary debate over multi-debate, contemporary debate over multi-

culturalism and theories of liberal democracyculturalism and theories of liberal democracy

Concepts of religion, interreligious dialogue,Concepts of religion, interreligious dialogue,secularization, identity and tolerance.secularization, identity and tolerance.

Educational issues relating to interculturalEducational issues relating to interculturaldialoguedialogue

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Progression Progression Spring 2008Spring 2008

Toleration in a Multicultural Society: Problems andToleration in a Multicultural Society: Problems and

Perspectives.Perspectives.

The history of tolerationThe history of toleration Theories of toleration in normative politicalTheories of toleration in normative political

philosophyphilosophy

(St. Petersburg)(St. Petersburg)

Discussing first draft of teaching-portfolioDiscussing first draft of teaching-portfolio

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Progression Progression Summer 2008Summer 2008

Theories of democracy, multiculturalism andTheories of democracy, multiculturalism and

reasonable pluralism.reasonable pluralism.

Constitutionalism and minority rights limitsConstitutionalism and minority rights limitsto majority rule?to majority rule?

Philosophical problems and paradoxes ofPhilosophical problems and paradoxes of

democracy (social choice theory)democracy (social choice theory) Democratic citizenship and civic educationDemocratic citizenship and civic education

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Progression Progression Spring 2009Spring 2009

Political liberalism with overlapping consensusPolitical liberalism with overlapping consensus

versus religious and morally founded politicalversus religious and morally founded political

systems.systems.

The relation between basic political principlesThe relation between basic political principles

and comprehensive theories of the good lifeand comprehensive theories of the good life

and just society State neutrality as a politicaland just society State neutrality as a political

ideal?ideal? Religious or moral base for political systems?Religious or moral base for political systems?

Participants suggestions for curricula/syllabiParticipants suggestions for curricula/syllabi

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Progression Progression Summer 2009Summer 2009

Justifying democracy On the universality orJustifying democracy On the universality orrelativity of democratic values.relativity of democratic values.

Can Western liberal values be exported (or isCan Western liberal values be exported (or is

that just another instance of moralthat just another instance of moralimperialism)?imperialism)?

Universal justification or imbedding in localUniversal justification or imbedding in local

culture?culture? Rational objective debate or merely clashesRational objective debate or merely clashes

of civilisation?of civilisation?

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Progression Progression Spring 2010Spring 2010

Democratic education what could and shouldDemocratic education what could and should

that be?that be?

The proper role of education in a pluralisticThe proper role of education in a pluralisticdemocracydemocracy

State intervention in and control of education?State intervention in and control of education?

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The form of the schoolsThe form of the schools

Variety of teaching styles and methods used byVariety of teaching styles and methods used by

resource faculty different role models forresource faculty different role models for

teachingteaching

Differing formats:Differing formats: LecturesLectures

SeminarsSeminars

Round TablesRound Tables Participants PresentationsParticipants Presentations

Aim: An open discussion climate peer to peerAim: An open discussion climate peer to peer

communicationcommunication

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Finally..Finally..

Comments on the plan and suggestions for newComments on the plan and suggestions for new

topics, formats, resource-persons etc. are mosttopics, formats, resource-persons etc. are most

welcomewelcome

(Planning the schools is inevitably open,(Planning the schools is inevitably open,

pragmatic and flexible)pragmatic and flexible)

Exchange of participants with other projectsExchange of participants with other projects

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Core resource facultyCore resource faculty

Prof. Tim Jensen, Professor, Department of Religion Studies, TheProf. Tim Jensen, Professor, Department of Religion Studies, The

University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkUniversity of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

Prof. John Christian Laursen, Professor, Department of Politics, TheProf. John Christian Laursen, Professor, Department of Politics, The

University of California, Riverside, USAUniversity of California, Riverside, USA

Prof. Cary J. Nederman, Professor, Department of Politics, Texas A&MProf. Cary J. Nederman, Professor, Department of Politics, Texas A&M

University, College Station, USAUniversity, College Station, USA

Prof. Leokadiya Drobizheva, Professor, Center of Ethnic Sociology,Prof. Leokadiya Drobizheva, Professor, Center of Ethnic Sociology,

Institute of Sociology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow,Institute of Sociology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow,RussiaRussia

Prof. Vladimir Kozlovsky, Professor, Department of Sociology, TheProf. Vladimir Kozlovsky, Professor, Department of Sociology, The

University of Sankt-Petersburg, RussiaUniversity of Sankt-Petersburg, Russia

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Resource facultyResource faculty

Prof. Peter Wagner (Department of Social and Political Science,Prof. Peter Wagner (Department of Social and Political Science,

European University Institute, Florence, Italy),European University Institute, Florence, Italy),

Prof. Martin Van Gelderen (Department of History and Civilization,Prof. Martin Van Gelderen (Department of History and Civilization,

European University Institute, Florence, Italy),European University Institute, Florence, Italy),

Prof. Elisabetta Galeotti (Department of Philosophy, Universit diProf. Elisabetta Galeotti (Department of Philosophy, Universit diPiemonte Orientale, Vercelli, Italy),Piemonte Orientale, Vercelli, Italy),

Prof. Matt Matravers (Head of the Department of Politics at theProf. Matt Matravers (Head of the Department of Politics at the

University of York, UK).University of York, UK).

Prof. Elena Stepanova (Institute of Philosophy and Law of Ural branchProf. Elena Stepanova (Institute of Philosophy and Law of Ural branch

of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia),of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia),Prof. Vladimir Brushinkin (Department of Philosophy, Kaliningrad StateProf. Vladimir Brushinkin (Department of Philosophy, Kaliningrad State

University, Russia),University, Russia),

Prof. Margarita Zakovorotnaya (Department of Philosophy, RostovProf. Margarita Zakovorotnaya (Department of Philosophy, Rostov

State University, Russia)State University, Russia)