LIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Abstract

This essay discusses the tenets of democracy, focusing primarily on the idea of liberty in a liberal democracy in relation to multiculturalism. It begins by defining concepts such as democracy, multiculturalism, liberty and majority rule so that ambiguity can be avoided. The paper conceives a liberal society as one which promotes private aspirations and guarantees entities with varying degree of identities and differences of equal recognition. Consequently, it shows that a liberal society advances freedom of enterprise, freedom of speech and right to self-discovery, selfaffirmation and participation. The testability of, as well as justification for these ideals are equally shown using the deconstructive method of analysis and at the same time attempting to bridge the gap between majority-minority syndrome in a multicultural society. The paper acknowledges that unrest among people of different cultures, regions or ethnicities in a multicultural society makes it impossible for the claim of democratic ideals to be justified in such society. It thereafter concludes that the pursuit of liberty for the individuals and the promotion of majority interest often attributed to liberal democracy cannot be defended until liberal democratic society becomes less anti- minority. To attain this status, the study submits that societies with varying degree of identities and differences, such as the African states, must ensure unfettered access to discourse and participation.