Strange Multiplicity: Constitutionalism in an Age of Diversity

by James Tully

• ISBN13: 9780521476942
• ISBN10: 0521476941
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-09-29
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In the inaugural set of Seeley Lectures, the distinguished political philosopher James Tully addresses the demands for cultural recognition that constitute the major conflicts of today: supranational associations, nationalism and federalism, linguistic and ethnic minorities, feminism, multiculturalism and aboriginal self government. Neither modern nor post-modern constitutionalism can adjudicate such claims justly. However, by surveying 400 years of constitutional practice, with special attention to the American aboriginal peoples, Tully develops a new philosophy of constitutionalism based on dialogues of conciliation which, he argues, have the capacity to mediate contemporary conflicts and bring peace to the twenty-first century. Strange Multiplicity brings profound historical, critical and philosophical perspectives to our most pressing contemporary conflicts, and provides an authoritative guide to constitutional possibilities in a multicultural age.

Table of Contents

Part I. Demands for Constitutional Recognition: 1. The constitutional question raised by the politics of cultural recognition: six examples and three similarities

2. The mutual recognition of cultural diversity: three features of the common ground and three historical movements

3. The spirit of Haida Gwaii as a symbol of the age of cultural diversity

4. A constitutional dialogue in The spirit of Haida Gwaii

Part II. Diversity and Contemporary Constitutionalism: 5. Anwering the constitutional question: an outline

6. Two languages of contemporary constitutionalism and the three schools of modern constitutionalism

7. The challenge of post-modernism and cultural feminism

8. The challenge of interculturalism

Part III. The Historical Formation of Modern Constitutionalism: The Empire of Uniformity: 9. Constitutions ancient and modern

10. Seven features of modern constitutionalism

11. Example of forging the seven features: Locke and Aboriginal peoples

12. Vattel, Kant and their followers

13.The reform of diversity in Europe and the colonies

14. The American revolution and the guardians of empire today

Part IV. The Historical Formation of Common Constitutionalism: The Rediscovery of Cultural Diversity, Part I: 15. The hidden constitutions of contemporary societies

16. Understanding constitutionalism: Wittgenstein and Hale

17. Examples of the three conventions: the Aboriginal and common-law system and the conventions of mutual recognition and consent

18. The Aboriginal and common law system and the convention of continuity

19.The Aboriginal and common law system and constitutional dialogue

Part V. The Historical Formation of Common Constitutionalism: The Rediscovery of Cultural Diversity. Part II: 20. Diverse federalism and the conventions of mutual recognition, continuity and consent

21. Diverse federalism and continuity: the Qué

bec act and the ancient constitution

22. Diverse federalism, the three conventions and the American revolution

23. The modern attack on diverse federalism: the Durham report and its followers

24. Linguistic minorities and the three conventions: the form of reasoning appropriate to mutual recognition and accommodation

25. Intercultural citizens, gender differences and the three conventions

Part VI. Constitutionalism in an Age of Cultural Diversity: 25. A summary of contemporary constitutionalism

26. Replies to four objections to contemporary constitutionalism

27. Two public goods of contemporary constitutionalism: belonging and critical freedom

Conclusion: the philosophy and practice of contemporary constitutionalism

Notes

Bibliography

Index.