Regimes of Toleration in Nation-States and in Consociations: The Recognition of Ethno-Cultural Diversity and Its Dilemmas in a Globalized World

The paper will analyze diverse politics of recognition in and beyond European societies, that is in plural societies such as those in Southeast Asia. It will endeavor to show that despite their considerably disparate historical experiences, practically all the diverse types of governance of multiculturality in a globalized world have a wide range of problems in regards to a decent recognition of ethno-cultural diversity. The comparison intends to highlight in particular that the European political agenda (rather liberal-oriented) cannot be exported to plural societies just as the political agenda of plural societies (rather communitarian- and consociational-oriented) cannot be transposed tout court into other societies. The analysis of the empirical data in the article based on the method of comparison by contrast (thus not comparison by affinity), which also challenges the simplistic soundness of universalistic models of interpretation. Finally the article intends to show the relevance of the comparative method elaborating differences but also family resemblances (following Wittgenstein's terminology).