Ethnopluralism
Encyclopedia
Ethnopluralism or ethno-pluralism is a European New Right theory of multiculturalism
which contrasts with liberal
multiculturalism.
"Cultural differentialism" is the view that culture
s are clearly bound entities with a specific geographical
location. From this perspective, global cultural diversity
takes the form of cultural mosaic with a multiplicity of diverse cultures clearly delimited and with strict boundaries between them.
Ethnopluralists use the concept of cultural differentialism to assert a "right to difference" and argue for regional policies
of ethnic separatism and racial separatism, but stress that each ethnic group
and racial group should be considered equal on its own merit. This right-wing
view of culture, ethnicity and race is increasingly popular in the ideological discourse of several right-wing and far-right
groups in Europe
since the 1970s, and has penetrated the discourse of a postmodern
Left
(i.e., Telos
).
A leading proponent of ethnopluralism is the French New Right (Nouvelle Droite
) philosopher Alain de Benoist
, who claims that indigenous cultures in Europe are dying out and feels that pan-European nationalism
based on ethnopluralism and "ethnoregionalism" would be the way to stop this.
Political scientist Alberto Spektorowski argues that cultural differentialism, which the European New Right opposes to racial superiority
, leads precisely to European assertiveness
and technological superiority
. He further argues that an ethnoregional strategy contributes to a right-wing exclusionist vision of a culturally homogeneous, immigrant free
and economically strong
Europe.
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
which contrasts with liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
multiculturalism.
"Cultural differentialism" is the view that culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
s are clearly bound entities with a specific geographical
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
location. From this perspective, global cultural diversity
Cultural diversity
Cultural diversity is having different cultures respect each other's differences. It could also mean the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole...
takes the form of cultural mosaic with a multiplicity of diverse cultures clearly delimited and with strict boundaries between them.
Ethnopluralists use the concept of cultural differentialism to assert a "right to difference" and argue for regional policies
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
of ethnic separatism and racial separatism, but stress that each ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
and racial group should be considered equal on its own merit. This right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
view of culture, ethnicity and race is increasingly popular in the ideological discourse of several right-wing and far-right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
groups in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
since the 1970s, and has penetrated the discourse of a postmodern
Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement evolved in reaction to modernism, the tendency in contemporary culture to accept only objective truth and to be inherently suspicious towards a global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. Postmodernist thought is an intentional departure from the...
Left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
(i.e., Telos
TELOS (journal)
Telos is an academic journal published in the United States. It was founded in May 1968 to provide the New Left with a coherent theoretical perspective. It sought to expand the Husserlian diagnosis of "the crisis of European sciences" to prefigure a particular program of social reconstruction...
).
A leading proponent of ethnopluralism is the French New Right (Nouvelle Droite
Nouvelle Droite
Nouvelle Droite is a school of political thought founded largely on the works of Alain de Benoist and GRECE .-Etymology and history:...
) philosopher Alain de Benoist
Alain de Benoist
Alain de Benoist is a French academic, philosopher, a founder of the Nouvelle Droite and head of the French think tank GRECE. Benoist is a critic of liberalism, free markets and egalitarianism.-Biography:...
, who claims that indigenous cultures in Europe are dying out and feels that pan-European nationalism
Pan-European nationalism
The idea that Europe should be united politically has been present in European culture since the Middle Ages, and inspired several proposals for some form of confederation. With the growth of nationalism in the 19th century, several pan-national ideas of Europe developed, some of them based on...
based on ethnopluralism and "ethnoregionalism" would be the way to stop this.
Political scientist Alberto Spektorowski argues that cultural differentialism, which the European New Right opposes to racial superiority
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, leads precisely to European assertiveness
Eurosphere
The concept of the ‘Eurosphere’ or ‘European Empire’ has grown in popularity in the early years of the 21st century, and is associated with the public intellectual, Mark Leonard, the academic at the University of Oxford, Jan Zielonka, the strategist and European Union Director-General for...
and technological superiority
Technological escalation
Technological escalation describes the situation where two parties in competition tend to employ continual technological improvements in their attempt to defeat each other. Technology is defined here as a creative invention, either in the form of an object or a methodology...
. He further argues that an ethnoregional strategy contributes to a right-wing exclusionist vision of a culturally homogeneous, immigrant free
Nativism (politics)
Nativism favors the interests of certain established inhabitants of an area or nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants. It may also include the re-establishment or perpetuation of such individuals or their culture....
and economically strong
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
Europe.
See also
- Anti-miscegenation lawsAnti-miscegenation lawsAnti-miscegenation laws, also known as miscegenation laws, were laws that enforced racial segregation at the level of marriage and intimate relationships by criminalizing interracial marriage and sometimes also sex between members of different races...
- IntegralismIntegralismIntegralism, or Integral nationalism, is an ideology according to which a nation is an organic unity. Integralism defends social differentiation and hierarchy with co-operation between social classes, transcending conflict between social and economic groups...
- NativismNativism (politics)Nativism favors the interests of certain established inhabitants of an area or nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants. It may also include the re-establishment or perpetuation of such individuals or their culture....
- Racial segregationRacial segregationRacial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
- Separate but equalSeparate but equalSeparate but equal was a legal doctrine in United States constitutional law that justified systems of segregation. Under this doctrine, services, facilities and public accommodations were allowed to be separated by race, on the condition that the quality of each group's public facilities was to...
- South Africa under apartheid
- Third PositionThird PositionThird Position is a revolutionary nationalist political ideology that emphasizes its opposition to both communism and capitalism. Advocates of Third Position politics typically present themselves as "beyond left and right", instead claiming to syncretize radical ideas from both ends of the...
- White separatismWhite separatismWhite separatism is a separatist political movement that seeks separate economic and cultural development for white people. White separatists generally claim genetic affiliation with Anglo-Saxon cultures, Nordic cultures, or other white European cultures...