Liberalism is based in the underlying principles of the enlightenment: freedom and autonomy. Multiculturalism, on the contrary is based on romantic ideals as authenticity and on ontological presuppositions, mainly the Durkheim assertion of social facts, which inevitably leads to the idea of volkgeist and nationalism.
To make this easier to understand I should explain the two social theories underlying both liberalism and communitarianism. Liberalism is based in Max Weber´s sociology. This German thinker depict sociology as a science which studies and tries to explain the actions of individuals. Weber emphasises in his concept of sociology the social actions. On the other hand, Durkheim is the intellectual father of communitarians beliefs on society. He proclaimed that the object of sociology is the study of social facts. Durkheim asserts the existence of social facts, like being French, and explains the behaviour and features of individuals using those existing-by-themselves concepts. Here is where many liberals thinkers (with whom I agree) have seen the main error of identity politics. Supporting identities or cultures implies sustaining social facts. Instead of explaining the actions of social agents from their own interests and motivations to act, followers of Durkeim sociology attempt to explain social actions through referring them to sociological categories like being French or male or utilitarian.
This is why I prefer liberalism, because they do not associate you to a human category, to a culture or an identity. For liberals there is no ideal of authenticity to follow or respect, there is only personal election of what is valuable. I cannot think in the social fact of being British or German, in a cluster of characteristics, customs and skills that someone must perform to be a proper British or a German. Even less now that I have met here in England so different people from different countries. It does not exists any volkgeist nor any national character, only more or less free and independent individuals.
Gabriel Carpintero Román
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My thoughts on Liberalism.
I share you admiration of the principles of liberalism, but it seems these are overshadowed by the way that they are put into practice in the modern political world.
There is nothing more powerful, I agree, than ones ‘free individual’ spirit, however, I feel that this is important in consultation when approaching the world around you, rather than dismissing other social ideology completely. If an individual does not fit the characteristics of a certain country, which many don’t, this does not automatically assume that the countries’ culture and customs did not have impact on whom they have become.
‘Personal election of what is valuable’ is paramount when approaching any decision in life, however I believe that for social change to be cohesive, you must balance personal election in view of a) the impact of ones moral self and, b) how you can attain such personal election alongside the world one lives.
It is demoralising to see the principles of liberalism being misconstrued into simply - sitting on the fence. ‘Liberal’ is a wide term these days which is vastly expanding as a result of building tension from the local to a world scale. The western world is in a catalyst of liberalisation as the public mind is swaying to its advantage. The problem we face with this is that liberals now play into the same hands as the right and big business, which, under the mask of it all are deeply rooted by fascism and imperialism.
I am not a socialist, but I found this video of a talk given by Alan Maass. I found it useful as a source when overviewing liberalism today, excluding his socialist conclusions of course.
VIDEO - "Has Liberalism Made a Comeback?" [Socialism 2008] - 45 min Alan Maass is the editor of the revolutionary Socialist Worker (US) newspaper. At Socialism 2008 in June, Chicago, US.
Link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1385596000672897684&ei=VuwpSfSxM5DMiQKg7MTtBg&q=liberalism+socialism
Peace
Christopher Jones
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