Abstract
The article presents a normative principle of constitutional justice that acknowledges ethnocultural and ethnonational diversity by addressing the injustice of political alienation. It is suggested that this principle could be the subject of a methodological overlapping consensus among several comprehensive normative-theoretical frameworks that are influential in current debates. The main implication of the principle for ethnically diverse societies is that it demands a deconstruction of hierarchical group relations among citizens along with the simultaneous achievement of an inclusive political culture. I apply this normative framework to the struggle for constitutional justice in the ethnonationally divided context of Northern Ireland. The principle would seem to demand a binational egalitarian arrangement and it is argued that this would be most effectively achieved under joint British-Irish sovereignty. I conclude by considering how to minimize the risk that such institutional recognition of national identities could further alienate citizens who do not belong to either of the main national groups.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 369-392 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Ethnicities |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2003 |
Keywords
- Constitutions
- Diversity
- Hierarchies
- Northern Ireland
- Sovereignty
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
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