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This thesis examines the question of the extent to which theories of citizenship, especially as developed in political liberalism, help to formulate an understanding of cultural diversity in relation to political stability and justice. Taking the recent debates over liberal and communitarian political philosophy as the object of inquiry, it explores the social and political character of multiculturalism and indigenous rights movements in Australia’s political culture. The principal aim is to establish that political liberalism provides appropriate political and ethical norms for adjudicating multicultural and indigenous rights claims. Thus, the exposition is twofold: first the thesis explores the concepts of justice as fairness as expounded in Rawlsian political liberalism. Second it applies the Rawlsian perspective to analyse the implications of multiculturalism and indigenous politics for the Australian liberal state. Interpreted in the light of the problems of contemporary patterns of pluralism, Rawls’ theory demonstrates the necessity and desirability of applying justice as fairness to the ‘special rights’ challenges confronting Western liberal states, including Australia.

This thesis examines the question of the extent to which theories of citizenship, especially as developed in political liberalism, help to formulate an understanding of cultural diversity in relation to political stability and justice. Taking the recent debates over liberal and communitarian political philosophy as the object of inquiry, it explores the social and political character of multiculturalism and indigenous rights movements in Australia’s political culture. The principal aim is to establish that political liberalism provides appropriate political and ethical norms for adjudicating multicultural and indigenous rights claims. Thus, the exposition is twofold: first the thesis explores the concepts of justice as fairness as expounded in Rawlsian political liberalism. Second it applies the Rawlsian perspective to analyse the implications of multiculturalism and indigenous politics for the Australian liberal state. Interpreted in the light of the problems of contemporary patterns of pluralism, Rawls’ theory demonstrates the necessity and desirability of applying justice as fairness to the ‘special rights’ challenges confronting Western liberal states, including Australia.

This thesis examines the question of the extent to which theories of citizenship, especially as developed in political liberalism, help to formulate an understanding of cultural diversity in relation to political stability and justice. Taking the recent debates over liberal and communitarian political philosophy as the object of inquiry, it explores the social and political character of multiculturalism and indigenous rights movements in Australia’s political culture. The principal aim is to establish that political liberalism provides appropriate political and ethical norms for adjudicating multicultural and indigenous rights claims. Thus, the exposition is twofold: first the thesis explores the concepts of justice as fairness as expounded in Rawlsian political liberalism. Second it applies the Rawlsian perspective to analyse the implications of multiculturalism and indigenous politics for the Australian liberal state. Interpreted in the light of the problems of contemporary patterns of pluralism, Rawls’ theory demonstrates the necessity and desirability of applying justice as fairness to the ‘special rights’ challenges confronting Western liberal states, including Australia.

This thesis examines the question of the extent to which theories of citizenship, especially as developed in political liberalism, help to formulate an understanding of cultural diversity in relation to political stability and justice. Taking the recent debates over liberal and communitarian political philosophy as the object of inquiry, it explores the social and political character of multiculturalism and indigenous rights movements in Australia’s political culture. The principal aim is to establish that political liberalism provides appropriate political and ethical norms for adjudicating multicultural and indigenous rights claims. Thus, the exposition is twofold: first the thesis explores the concepts of justice as fairness as expounded in Rawlsian political liberalism. Second it applies the Rawlsian perspective to analyse the implications of multiculturalism and indigenous politics for the Australian liberal state. Interpreted in the light of the problems of contemporary patterns of pluralism, Rawls’ theory demonstrates the necessity and desirability of applying justice as fairness to the ‘special rights’ challenges confronting Western liberal states, including Australia.