Identity and Rights in Contemporary Theories of Multiculturalism: the Problem of Educational Policy

U radu se stavlja fokus na ono što se danas popularno naziva teorijama multikulturalizma. Daje se do znanja da, osim što multikulturalizam kao pojam upućuje na stanje raznolikosti u suvremenim društvima, on također upućuje na različite moduse nošenja s tom raznolikošću primjenom različitih javnih politika koje nastoje ići u korak s idealom društvene pravednosti u kontekstu promišljanja identiteta i prava različitih distinktivnih skupina i pojedinaca. Kako bi se lakše shvatila narav i dinamika suvremenih debata o multikulturalizmu, prikazane su postavke relevantnih – u orijentacijsko-sadržajnom smislu – suprotstavljenih teoretičara B. Barryja, B. Parekha i Chandrana Kukathasa. Dok s jedne strane, Barry predstavlja tabor klasičnih liberala smatrajući pritom da su pojedinac i njegova prava ključna figura u ostvarivanju dugoročnog društvenog sklada i prosperiteta, druga dva autora – svaki na svoj način – rade otklon od takve koncepcije stavljajući veći fokus na važnost, uvjetno rečeno, ovih ili onih tipova kolektivnih identiteta. Imajući na umu bazične postavke i problematiku multikulturalizma, naposljetku se sagledava krucijalna funkcija obrazovanja kao svojevrsnog odraza, ali i orijentacije pojedinih društava da društvenim raznolikostima pristupe na jedan nadasve humanistički i koncilijantan način, pri čemu se društvene raznolikosti neće a priori percipirati kao remetilački faktor, već kao istinsko bogatstvo koje oplemenjuje ljudsku egzistenciju u svakom pogledu. U tom smislu, potrebno je inzistirati na inter-kulturalizmu kao svojevrsnoj novoj paradigmi koja fokus stavlja na upoznavanju i razmjeni između različitih kultura i identiteta.The paper focuses on what is popularly referred to today as the theories of multiculturalism. It is to be noted that, apart from the fact that multiculturalism as a term refers to the state of diversity in modern societies, it also refers to different modes of handling with this diversity by applying different public policies which strives to go hand in hand with the ideal of social justice in the context of the thinking of the identity and the rights of different distinctive groups and individuals. In order to better understand the nature and dynamics of contemporary debates on multiculturalism, theories of the relevant - in the orientation-content sense – the opposing theorists such as B. Barry, B. Parekh and Chandran Kukathas are presented here. While on the one hand, Barry represents the camp of the classical liberals, considering that the individual and his rights are a key figure in achieving long-term social harmony and prosperity, the other two authors - each in their own way - are working out of such a concept by placing greater focus on the importance of collective identities. Bearing in mind the basic settings and the issue of multiculturalism, the crucial function of education is considered as a sort of reflection, but also as the orientation of individual societies to approach social diversities in a very humanistic and conciliatory way, whereby social diversities will not a priori br perceived as a disturbing factor, but rather as a true wealth that is inspiring human existence in every respect. In this regard, it is necessary to insist on interculturalism as a new paradigm that is striving to focus on knowledge and exchange between different cultures and identities