Multikulturalizam i izazovi posttradicionalne pluralizacije
Multiculturalism and SChallenges of Posttraditional Pluralization

Summary/Abstract: The paper poses the question: is multiculturalism, in the situation of posttraditional social pluralization, an appropriate theoretical and practical model of integration in multiethnic and multicultural societies? In order to provide an answer, the author first analyzes the social processes responsible for speeding up contemporary social and cultural changes. The starting point of the analysis are the key insights of the theory of reflexive modernization. This is followed by an outline of the model of multiculturalism; the author explains why the demands for the group-specific protection of cultural minorities are focal to it. Particular attention is given to the ideas of C. Taylor and W. Kymlicka, and J. Habermas’ criticism. The assumption is that in the posttraditional social conditions, juxtaposing collective vs. individual rights misses the point because in the circumstances of constant change and growing social reflexivity only the cultures capable of reflexive self-transformation can survive. Each project of culture protection that is comparable to the protection of “endangered species”, which presupposes collective rights and duties, saps culture of its vitality and hinders the individuales in their critical reflexion of their identities. And contrary, in case of radical multiculturalism and rigid assimilationism – in both cases cultures are understood as natural species outside social context – posttraditional/reflexive reconstruction of identity can assume fundamentalist character. The author claims that the recognition of cultural minorities remains one of the central issues of present-day liberal democracies; however, the recognition of diversity ought to be based on democratic public debate through which individuals can work out their relationship towards different cultural traditions.

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