UBC-Laurier Institution Multiculturalism Lecture Series

2008 Lecture Information

The Three Lives of Multiculturalism

Since its adoption in 1971, the multiculturalism policy in Canada has encouraged the self-organization and representation of ethnocultural minorities. But the basis of this self-organization has changed over time. Initially, groups were encouraged to organize on an ethnic basis, defined by their country of origin. Over time, this logic of ethnicity has been supplemented by programs intended to deal with processes of racialization and racial discrimination. And, more recently, we have seen yet another basis for self-organization emerge, as groups defined by religion seek a seat at the multicultural table. In this Lecture, I will explore these three logics of ethnicity, race and religion, to see how they interact, and how they can contribute to the building of more inclusive models of democratic citizenship in Canada.
The 2008 UBC-Laurier Institution lecture will be delivered by Dr. Will Kymlicka.

Will Kymlicka received his B.A. in philosophy and politics from Queen's University in 1984, and his D.Phil. in philosophy from Oxford University in 1987.

He is the author of five books published by Oxford University Press: Liberalism, Community, and Culture (1989), Contemporary Political Philosophy (1990; second edition 2002), Multicultural Citizenship (1995), which was awarded the Macpherson Prize by the Canadian Political Science Association, and the Bunche Award by the American Political Science Association, Finding Our Way: Rethinking Ethnocultural Relations in Canada (1998), Politics in the Vernacular: Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Citizenship (2001), and Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity (2007).

He is also the editor of Justice in Political Philosophy (Elgar 1992), and The Rights of Minority Cultures (OUP 1995), and co-editor of Ethnicity and Group Rights (NYU 1997), Citizenship in Diverse Societies (OUP 2000), Alternative Conceptions of Civil Society (PUP 2001), Can Liberal Pluralism Be Exported? (OUP 2001), Language Rights and Political Theory (OUP 2003), Ethnicity and Democracy in Africa (James Currey, 2004), Multiculturalism in Asia (OUP 2005), Multiculturalism and the Welfare State (OUP 2006), and The Globalization of Ethics (CUP, 2007).

He is currently the Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy at Queen's University, and a visiting professor in the Nationalism Studies program at the Central European University in Budapest. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. From 2004 – 2006, he was the President of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy. His works have been translated into 30 languages.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
7:00 PM
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6265 Crescent Road, UBC Point Grey Campus

This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. Tickets are required. Please call 604-822-1444 to pre-register for your FREE ticket or visit the Chan Centre Ticket office.