Communalism and the Pursuit of Democracy
A Reflection on the Eradication of Racialism and Promoting Social Harmony
Buch in deiner Nähe kaufen
Beschreibung
"Beyond the dichotomy of primordiality and transactionalism in anthropological theory, Professor Tan Chee-Beng adduces evolutionary psychology to illuminate the phenomenon of ethnic/communal conflict in modern democracies. He suggests that a combination of conviviality and somewhat utopian sense of cosmopolitanism amongst 'ethnies' would be needed to combat ethnic nationalism by civic or civil nationalism. The argument concerning ethnic conundrum and its possible resolution is grounded in apt illustrations from Malaysia, the U.S.A., and the People's Republic of China among other parts of the world. It is an original and provocative contribution to global studies indeed.”
—Ravindra Jain, Former Professor of Sociology and Social Anthropology and Dean, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiThis Palgrave Pivot examines why racialism is so persistent and the challenges it poses to the functioning of democracy and the attainment of national integration. It introduces an evolutionary psychology framework, which explains human innate potential to identify with and defend one’s group, but argues that racial dislike and conflicts are provoked by racial ideologies and the politics of ethnicity. By comparing the politics of race in a number of countries, including Malaysia and the United States, this book argues that attachment to one’s ethnic and religious identities does not hinder ethnic harmony. It is necessary to manage the issues of race and religion as well as promoting conviviality and cosmopolitanism for pursuing the ideal of common humanity and for maintaining a stable and meaningful democracy. This book concludes that democracy, as practiced, has some major weaknesses; as an ideal, it is still the best form of government to pursue.
Chee-BengTan has taught at the University of Singapore, University of Malaya, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou. He is currently Adjunct Professor, CUHK, and Adjunct Professor, Tunku Abdul Rahman University. A cultural anthropologist, he has done research in Malaysia and China.
This Palgrave Pivot examines why racialism is so persistent and the challenges it poses to the functioning of democracy and the attainment of national integration. It introduces an evolutionary psychology framework, which explains human innate potential to identify with and defend one’s group, but argues that racial dislike and conflicts are provoked by racial ideologies and the politics of ethnicity. By comparing the politics of race in a number of countries, including Malaysia and the United States, this book argues that attachment to one’s ethnic and religious identities does not hinder ethnic harmony. It is necessary to manage the issues of race and religion as well as promoting conviviality and cosmopolitanism for pursuing the ideal of common humanity and for maintaining a stable and meaningful democracy. This book concludes that democracy, as practiced, has some major weaknesses; as an ideal, it is still the best form of government to pursue.
Provides a concise explanation of the persistence of racialism Addresses the relationship between the politics of race and the functioning of democracy Offers an argument to the need to pursue a more ideal democracy
Autor*in
Chee-Beng Tan
Themen in »Communalism and the Pursuit of Democracy«
Racialism Democracy Evolutionary Psychology Far-Right Ideology Primordial Sentiments Malaysia Southeast Asia USA Cosmopolitanism
Stimmen zu »Communalism and the Pursuit of Democracy«
“Beyond the dichotomy of primordiality and transactionalism in anthropological theory, Professor Tan Chee-Beng adduces evolutionary psychology to illuminate the phenomenon of ethnic/communal conflict in modern democracies. He suggests that a combination of conviviality and somewhat utopian sense of cosmopolitanism amongst 'ethnies' would be needed to combat ethnic nationalism by civic or civil nationalism. The argument concerning ethnic conundrum and its possible resolution is grounded in apt illustrations from Malaysia, the U.S.A., and the People's Republic of China among other parts of the world. It is an original and provocative contribution to global studies indeed.” (Ravindra Jain, Former Professor of Sociology and Social Anthropology and Dean, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)
()