Pluralism refers to theories and practices that favor the inclusion and tolerance of human differences. These differences could involve politics, religion, ethno-racial identity, cultural tradition, language, or something else. The study of pluralism varies with academic discipline. Political scientists describe pluralism as a feature of an open, democratic society in which people have political freedom, can express dissenting opinion, and can pressure government. Religion scholars examine differences within denominations as well as cooperation between different denominational and theological traditions. Sociologists and anthropologists focus on cultural pluralism, or the interrelationships between distinct groups--particularly ethnic, racial, or cultural groups. Their various approaches have led to lively debates about how best to conceptualize and empirically study pluralism.

These different disciplinary approaches to pluralism tend to share a concern with how social problems can arise when an individual or group is restricted from peaceful participation in the political system, cultural traditions, religion, or some other domain of social life. These various approaches also raise some similar questions about the relationship between groups and society at large. How do members of different ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, linguistic, and political groups participate in a shared society? How should they relate to each other, the state, and other key institutions? Do societies have a core culture to be preserved, and if so, who determines its openness to change? Most analyses of pluralism agree with certain pluralist assumptions: unlike fundamentalism or totalitarianism, a common pluralist sentiment is that some diversity is inherently good and distinct cultures should be protected. Said differently, the scholarship about pluralism encompasses both empirical investigations into group relations and normative statements about how groups should relate to one another.

References:

1) Downey, Dennis. 1999. "From Americanization to Multiculturalism: Political Symbols and Struggles for Cultural Diversity in Twentieth-Century American Race Relations." Sociological Perspectives 42:249-78.

2) Gleason, Phillip. 1984. "Pluralism and Assimilation: A Conceptual History." Pp. 221-57 in Linguistic Minorities, Policies and Pluralism, edited by J. Edwards. London: Academic Press.

3) Gordon, Milton. 1981. "Models of Pluralism: The New American Dilemma." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 454:178-88.

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