リヴァ・カストリヤノ監修「欧州のアイデンテイテイ? -多文化主義の試練-」

抄録

Given the exchange of views at the conference organised by the Centre d'études et de recherches internationales (CERI) of the Fondation nationale des sciences politiques in 1994, this book is dedicated to discuss whether multiculturalism could give a pragmatic and ideological response to the management of diversity in the context of the building of Europe. Having dealt with the diverse identities in the context of the Nation-States, this historical concept of multiculturalism will be reconsidered, in terms of its definition and applications through the interdisciplinary studies proposed by anthropologists, sociologists, jurists, political scientists and philosophers. Through the examination of the emergence of a common political culture among the Nation-States of which Europe is made up, some authors investigate if the multiculturalism could evolve a new form of political organisation by managing the cultural and national diversities at the European level, and eventually construct a European identity.
On the whole, the arguments of this book emphasise that the possibility of constructing a European political culture and a European identity would not be totally independent from the roles of the States and ‘nations’. At the same time, it is essential to re-examine the traditional concepts of the States and ‘nations’ for the purpose of constituting a new and open space that would recognise various identities through the interactions of the actors at the different levels, such as the European Union, the Member-States, groups and individuals (including both EU citizens and foreigners).
This book stands out as an excellent and fresh contribution to the literature discussing multiculturalism in the European context. My only reservation is that empirical studies are largely ignored to discuss the social and political contexts in which the diverse identities demand their recognition and the fulfillment of their rights.