This paper explores the relationship between cultural identity and human rights in the light of the dynamics of identity formation, based on the immediate external culture of any multicultural society. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between culture, identity and rights, which broadens the parameter of the existing dimension of human rights, using secondary sources to review the literature. It argues that these dynamics are marked by a number of factors and components featuring the group, community and individual rights. This prepares grounds for a wider, inclusionary and horizontal understanding of the Human Rights dimension and paradigms, not only in a multicultural society but also in a democratic nation- state which is significantly marked by minority rights and ethnic identity claims. Thus through a critical approach and a post-colonial perspective, this paper shows how this specific and particular dynamics of cultural identity casts an effect on the theory and practice of normative political theory and trajectories. The paper concludes that the Human Rights inherently invoke a challenge in the analysis of identity-formation and cultural heterogeneity dynamics, which are significant in the contemporary global democratic politics.
KeywordsCultureIdentityCommunityRecognitionRights
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Appiah, K. A. (1994a). Race, Culture, Identity: Misunderstood Connections (pp. 53-136). The Tanner Lectures on Human Values, San Diego: University of California.
Baxi, U. (2002). The Future of Human Rights. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
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Fazal, T. (2015). Nation-State and Minority Rights in India: Comparative Perspectives on Muslim and Sikh Identities. London: Routledge.
Gentile, V. (2012). From Identity-Conflict to Civil Society: Restoring Human Dignity and Pluralism in Deeply Divided Societies. Rome: Luiss University Press.
Guru, G. (2001). The Language of Dalit-Bahujan Political Discourse. In G. Shah (Ed.), Dalit Identity and Politics (pp. 97-107). New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Hegel, G. W. F. (2001). The Philosophy of Rights (S. W. Dyde, Trans.). Kitchener, Ontario: Batoche Books.
Ishay, M. R. (2004). What Are Human Rights? Six Historical Contoversies. Journal of Human Rights, 3, 359-371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1475483042000224897
Jameson, F. (1991). Postmodernism or The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism. Durham: Duke University Press.
Kapur, R. (2006). Human Rights in the 21st Century: Take a Walk on the Dark Side. Sydney Law Review, 28, 665-687.
Kukathas, C. (1992). Are There Any Cultural Rights? Political Theory, 20, 105-139. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0090591792020001006
Kymlicka, W. (1991). Liberalism, Community and Culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka, W. (1992). The Rights of Minority Cultures: Reply to Kukathas. Political Theory, 20, 140-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0090591792020001007
Kymlicka, W. (1995). Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka, W. (2002). Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Macedo, S. (1999). Deliberative Politics: Essays on Democracy and Disagreement. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Maclure, J. (2003). The Politics of Recognition at an Impasse? Identity Politics and Democratic Citizenship. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 36, 3-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0008423903778500
Miller, D. (2008). Immigrants, Nations and Citizenship. The Journal of Political Philosophy, 16, 371-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00295.x
Nagel, T. (1995). Personal Rights and Public Space. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 24, 83-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1088-4963.1995.tb00024.x
Parekh, B. (2000). Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Taylor, C. (1989). Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Taylor, C. (1992). The Politics of Recognition. In A. Gutmann (Ed.), Multiculturalism and the Politics of Recognition (pp. 25-74). Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Vajpeyi, A. (2015). The Prison House of Identity. New Delhi: The Hindu. www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/dimapur-lynching-the-prison-house- of-identity/article6991176.ece
Appiah, K. A. (1994). Identity against Culture: Understandings of Multiculturalism (pp. 1-52). Occasional Paper Series, Berkeley: University of California Press.
Appiah, K. A. (1994a). Race, Culture, Identity: Misunderstood Connections (pp. 53-136). The Tanner Lectures on Human Values, San Diego: University of California.
Baxi, U. (2002). The Future of Human Rights. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Bhargav, R. (1995). Religious and Secular Identities. In U. Baxi, & B. Parekh (Eds.), Crisis and Change in Contemporary India (pp. 317-349). London: Sage Publications.
Carens, J. H. (2000). Culture, Citizenship and Community: A Contextual Exploration of Justice as Evenhandedness. Oxford: Oxford University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/0198297688.001.0001
Carens, J. H. (1987). Aliens and Citizens: The Case for Open Borders. In The Review of Politics (pp. 251-273). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0034670500033817
Defetereos, C. (2013). Ashis Nandy and the Cultural Politics of Selfhood. New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Fazal, T. (2015). Nation-State and Minority Rights in India: Comparative Perspectives on Muslim and Sikh Identities. London: Routledge.
Gentile, V. (2012). From Identity-Conflict to Civil Society: Restoring Human Dignity and Pluralism in Deeply Divided Societies. Rome: Luiss University Press.
Guru, G. (2001). The Language of Dalit-Bahujan Political Discourse. In G. Shah (Ed.), Dalit Identity and Politics (pp. 97-107). New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Hegel, G. W. F. (2001). The Philosophy of Rights (S. W. Dyde, Trans.). Kitchener, Ontario: Batoche Books.
Ishay, M. R. (2004). What Are Human Rights? Six Historical Contoversies. Journal of Human Rights, 3, 359-371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1475483042000224897
Jameson, F. (1991). Postmodernism or The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism. Durham: Duke University Press.
Kapur, R. (2006). Human Rights in the 21st Century: Take a Walk on the Dark Side. Sydney Law Review, 28, 665-687.
Kukathas, C. (1992). Are There Any Cultural Rights? Political Theory, 20, 105-139. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0090591792020001006
Kymlicka, W. (1991). Liberalism, Community and Culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka, W. (1992). The Rights of Minority Cultures: Reply to Kukathas. Political Theory, 20, 140-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0090591792020001007
Kymlicka, W. (1995). Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka, W. (2002). Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Macedo, S. (1999). Deliberative Politics: Essays on Democracy and Disagreement. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Maclure, J. (2003). The Politics of Recognition at an Impasse? Identity Politics and Democratic Citizenship. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 36, 3-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0008423903778500
Miller, D. (2008). Immigrants, Nations and Citizenship. The Journal of Political Philosophy, 16, 371-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00295.x
Nagel, T. (1995). Personal Rights and Public Space. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 24, 83-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1088-4963.1995.tb00024.x
Parekh, B. (2000). Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Taylor, C. (1989). Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Taylor, C. (1992). The Politics of Recognition. In A. Gutmann (Ed.), Multiculturalism and the Politics of Recognition (pp. 25-74). Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Vajpeyi, A. (2015). The Prison House of Identity. New Delhi: The Hindu. www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/dimapur-lynching-the-prison-house- of-identity/article6991176.ece