Democratic identity and religious freedom.

Authors

  • LUIS NÚÑEZ LADEVÉZE

Keywords:

human rigths, cultural identity, multiculturalism, formal democracy, freedom of worship.

Abstract

This article analyses the problems of consolidating religious identities within a western democracy. It mainly considers the possible conflict between free speech as a principle and the policy of a democratic State acting as arbitrator in acknowledging cultural identities. It proposes a concept of «democratic identity» that is separate from «cultural identity», following on from some recent proposals based on different versions of republicanism that promote civic virtues as the basis of democratic harmony. It argues that the distinctive feature of democratic identity is the supremacy of personal freedom over any other criterion that might lean towards the protection of cultural identities.

Published

2008-03-24

Issue

Section

ARTICLES