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Int.

Migration & Integration (2008) 9:419–421


DOI 10.1007/s12134-008-0077-5

Will Kymlicka, Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating


the New International Politics of Diversity
Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007, 320 pp, ISBN-13:
978–0199280407

Jim S. Frideres

Published online: 23 August 2008


# Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Every once in a while, a scholar produces a book that captures the readers
imagination, is well written and organized, presents an argument that is articulate,
provides data that support the argument being made, and forces colleagues to rethink
their views on a topic. This is one such book. The issue of multiculturalism has
become an issue of intense theoretical and political debate in recent times. Moreover,
academics and others of various hues and from a range of disciplines have become
preoccupied by the need to develop a better understanding of multiculturalism.
Kymlicka, knowing full well the political and academic controversy of the topic,
jumps into the debate with a well-presented, well-reasoned, and convincing
argument. Moreover, he is up front with his ideological position. He favors the
creation of liberal multiculturalism, and he feels that its impact is desirable and
beneficial to all. He argues that multiculturalist policies in the West have been
instrumental—indeed, crucial in dealing with ethnic politics and have supported
democracy and strengthened human rights. Its impact on post-colonial or communist
countries has been less successful; but nevertheless, it has had a strong impact on
minority–majority relations with regard to human rights, language rights, and issues
of self-determination.
Kymlicka argues that in the past four decades, there has been a major ideological
change with respect to how nation states deal with ethnocultural minorities. He
argues that as a result of this shift, there has been an adoption of policies by states
that accommodate immigrants groups, accept language rights for minorities, and are
prepared (more or less) to deal with land claims and self-government for indigenous
peoples. The question is, “are the claims that Klymlicka make correct?” and if so,
how did this come about? Kymlicka, then, sets his focus on documenting that there
is a new model that exists, and it is a result of pressure brought upon the state by

J. S. Frideres (*)
Department of Sociology, University of Calgary,
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
e-mail: frideres@ucalgary.ca
420 J.S. Frideres

international intergovernmental organizations. Or, put another way, he argues that


liberal multiculturalism is being globalized, and governments from the West as well
as post-colonial or post-communist have been significantly affected by this pressure.
His arguments draw from a variety of documents and historical evidence (from a
number of nation states) and his focus in on the “mega” (big picture) developments
supporting liberal multiculturalism.
The material is presented in eight chapters, making up three sections. The first
section focuses on how international intergovernmental organizations, e.g., World
Bank, United Nations, UNESCO, and Council of Europe’s Framework Convention
have, with the support of academics, think tanks, advocacy groups, and others,
began to influence and exert pressure on states to rethink their relationship with
immigrant groups, indigenous peoples, and minority groups within their political
jurisdiction. In short, they began a process of supporting liberal multicultural and
minority rights. And just when you say “ah, but you didn’t look at structural and
political agendas of these international organizations,” or you think, “he is omitting
any discussion of economic or structural conditions in the states,” Kymlicka
anticipates your concern and addresses the issue by the time the chapter is brought to
a conclusion. So, every time you are sure you have a counter argument to his
arguments, Kymlicka addresses the issue and carefully documents his arguments.
Has the development of liberal multiculturalism happened every where? No, and
that is part of the story that Kymlicka presents to the reader. Many post-colonial or
communist states have not implemented sustainable, long term liberal multi-
culturalist policies. Without a history of democracy, the ideas of self-government,
language rights, and territorial autonomy are sharply resisted by the state. Why it has
not been particularly successful in post-colonial or communist countries reveals the
political complexities that come to bear on the implementation of liberal
multicultural policies. Kymlicka outlines some of the major factors that he argues
have prevented the implementation of liberal multiculturalist policies in these states—
human rights guarantees, “desecuritization” (regional insecurity), distrust of interna-
tional intergovernmental organizations, colonial legacies of ethnic hierarchies, and the
demography in post-colonial or communist states. These factors, when taken
collectively, conspire to reject liberal multiculturalism by the state. On the other hand,
he notes that Latin America is unique and has endorsed liberal multiculturalism
beyond expectations. Such are the complexities of real life.
Section 2 provides the reader with an understanding of the logic of liberal
multiculturalism. He begins with outlining the origins of liberal multiculturalism and
demonstrates the sources and preconditions for its emergence. He then identifies the
various forms of liberal multiculturalism and concludes the section with a discussion
on how liberal multiculturalism operates in reality.
The last section of the book explores the paradoxes in the global diffusion of
liberal multiculturalism and focuses on issues that may produce ethnic conflict
(particularly in post-colonial or communist countries). Here, Kymlicka points out the
international intergovernmental organizations find themselves in a contradictory
position—promoting liberal multiculturalism and, at the same time, limiting and
constraining liberal multiculturalism. Kymlicka explains how these organizations
attempt to resolve this tension through first establishing “best practices,” but then, as
he argues, this is not sufficient for sustaining liberal multiculturalism. He cogently
Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity 421

argues that they now must develop norms and standards with regard to minorities
and indigenous people if states are to develop long term liberal multiculturalism.
Besides shedding light on a controversial issue, Kymlicka’s book adds to the
substantive content of the discipline by clearly delineating the differences between
western states and those emerging out of a post-colonial or communist history. For
example, he notes that in the West, it is generally a minority that feels it has been
mistreated while in post-communist societies; it is typically the majority that feels it
has been oppressed. He also addressed the issue of “security;” an issue that all states
have to cope with. He notes that demands made by minorities or indigenous people
can be “trumped” by the state simply through claiming this is a “security” issue. As
such, state repression is legitimized. Hence, the issue of “securitization” needs to be
carefully analyzed before policies are implemented to deny minorities their rights.
Finally, he demonstrates that multiculturalism emerged through the mobilization
efforts of non-dominant groups and, in fact, emerged in the face of resistance by
neo-liberals and business elites of the state. Surprisingly, these forces have come to,
sort of, embrace multiculturalism although the support is not unconditional and
could evaporate as new structural and economic conditions emerge.
Kymlicka has produced an exceptional book. Its lively and engaging style will
draw in the reader. He presents a new analysis of multiculturalism and one that
scholars working in the area will have to deal with. It offers intriguing and pertinent
insights into the nature of multiculturalism and its supporters. The Owl of Minerva
starts its flight as dusk and just as we thought the debate was coming to an end,
Kymlicka has reignited the controversy. The book is an exemplary presentation of
the complexities of multiculturalism and the politics in which it is embedded. It is an
extremely important book for scholars and policy makers in the area ethnic relations
and multiculturalism. Will Kymlicka has produced a worthy successor to his earlier
work, and its lively and engaging style add to its accessibility to undergraduates,
graduate students, policy makers, and scholars.

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