The illusion of universalism : how liberals misunderstand “tolerance”

Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate the ties between liberalism and imperialism. Although liberalism is not often associated with imperial tendencies, the social relationship between liberal and nonliberal peoples does not reflect the equality that is advocated by liberal theorists, but instead resembles an unequal power relationship. This relationship is indicative of imperialism which implies a clear delineation between the ruler and the ruled. How does this unequal power relationship between liberals and nonliberals go unnoticed? In an analysis of what I call the “rights-recognition" model of liberalism, I argue that the concept of “tolerance” is the key to understanding how this unequal relationship is maintained and made invisible. Specifically, I argue that liberals have misunderstood the concept of “tolerance” and, when properly understood, the concept implies the existence of an imperialistic power relationship. Furthermore, the way in which the concept of “tolerance” is understood and applied in liberal theory conceals that power relationship between liberals and nonliberals by masking it in a guise of universalism and inclusion. What I hope to show is the misconception of “tolerance” that is promoted in liberal theory can potentially lead to harmful consequences for nonliberal peoples.