Towards the Dignity of Difference?: Neither 'End of History' nor 'Clash of Civilizations'

The prevailing wisdom in the twenty first century seems to be that cultural, racial and ethnic diversity somehow diminishes social trust and cohesion, damages global peace and destroys the common good. Difference, it is generally argued by some, can be a potential threat to peace and democracy. This book is about difference and dialogue; it challenges the two dominant discourses of The End of History and The Clash of Civilizations. It embraces The Dignity of Difference and promotes dialogue. However, it also demonstrates the limits of dialogue as a useful and universal approach for resolving conflicts, particularly in cases involving asymmetric and unequal power relations. The distinguished group of authors suggests in this volume that there is a 'third way' of addressing global tensions - one that rejects the extremes of both universalism and particularism. This third way acknowledges the 'dignity of difference' and promotes both self-respect and respect for others. It is also a radical call for an epistemic shift in our understanding of us-other and good-evil . The authors strengthen their alternative approach with a practical policy guide, by challenging existing policies that either exclude or assimilate other cultures, that wage the constructed global war on terror, and that impose a western neo-liberal discourse on non-western societies. Since the root causes of extremism and terrorism are multiple, any public policy response should indeed also be multiple. This would allow for the development of alternative policies to the war on terror, such as those that respect the dignity of difference, the promotion and consolidation of a multicultural response and a radical approach toward accommodating difference as well as embracing the plural concept of the good . This important book will be essential reading for all those studying civilizations, globalization, foreign policy, peace and security studies, multiculturalism and ethnicity, regionalism, global governance and international political economy.