THE AMBIVALENT POTENTIAL OF CULTURAL-IDENTITY

Despite the overwhelming prevalence of democratic ideals in contempora ry political relations throughout the world, a potent ideological chal lenge to liberal democratic norms is the recent claim that ''different ial'' rights are essential to foster and protect the identity of indiv idual rights within culturally distinct groups. This article examines the claim that cultural identity confers sufficient normative force up on which to base distinct political rights for specific groups. In wha t, precisely, does the normative force of ''cultural identity'' lie? T he article challenges the claims that individuals' sense of personal i dentity can only arise through a ''secure cultural context''; that a p assive sense of group identity is a ''primary good'' that equals or ev en precedes the importance of universal human rights; and that this '' politics of inclusion'' based upon differential rights for different g roups will lead to greater equality and tolerance within the larger po litical community.