University of British Columbia Press Identity Politics in the Public Realm: Bringing Institutions Back In (Ethnicity and Democratic Governance)

In an age of multiculturalism and identity politics, many minority groups seek some form of official recognition or public accommodation of their identity. But can public institutions accurately recognize or accommodate something as subjective and dynamic as "identity?” Avigail Eisenberg and Will Kymlicka lead a distinguished team of scholars who explore state responses to identity claims worldwide. Their case studies focus on key issues where identity is central to public policy. By illuminating both the risks and opportunities of institutional responses to diversity, this volume shows that public institutions can either enhance or distort the benefits of identity politics. Book Description Are public institutions capable of evaluating minority group claims fairly? From the Author Avigail Eisenberg is a professor of political science at the University of Victoria. Will Kymlicka is the Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy at Queen’s University. Contributors: Victor Armony, Lori G. Beaman, Bruce J. Berman, Juliet Hooker, Villia Jefremovas, André Laliberté, Eléonore Lépinard, Jocelyn Maclure, Melissa Nobles, Padmapani L. Perez From the Inside Flap In an age of multiculturalism and identity politics, many minoritygroups seek some form of official recognition or public accommodationof their identity. But can public institutions accurately recognize oraccommodate something as subjective and dynamic as"identity?" Avigail Eisenberg and Will Kymlicka lead adistinguished team of scholars who explore state responses to identityclaims worldwide. Their case studies focus on key issues where identityis central to public policy. By illuminating both the risks andopportunities of institutional responses to diversity, this volumeshows that public institutions can either enhance or distort thebenefits of identity politics. From the Back Cover In an age of multiculturalism and identity politics, many minoritygroups seek some form of official recognition or public accommodationof their identity. But can public institutions accurately recognize oraccommodate something as subjective and dynamic as"identity?" Avigail Eisenberg and Will Kymlicka lead adistinguished team of scholars who explore state responses to identityclaims worldwide. Their case studies focus on key issues where identityis central to public policy. By illuminating both the risks andopportunities of institutional responses to diversity, this volumeshows that public institutions can either enhance or distort thebenefits of identity politics. About the Author Avigail Eisenberg is a professor of political science at the University of Victoria. Will Kymlicka is the Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy at Queen’s University. Contributors: Victor Armony, Lori G. Beaman, Bruce J. Berman, Juliet Hooker, Villia Jefremovas, André Laliberté, Eléonore Lépinard, Jocelyn Maclure, Melissa Nobles, Padmapani L. Perez