Introduction to Promoting Pluralism

Tags: Promoting Pluralism

In many places around the world, people are faced with the growth of intolerance. In Western Europe for instance, we observe a resistance to migrant cultures. National identities and the openness of a country to non-Western foreigners are heavily debated. In several countries where Hivos works, partners in civil society signal a rise of fundamentalisms of various sorts.

Fundamentalisms can be rooted in religion, ethnic affiliation, nationalism, social class or other value systems. These identities are a central part of who we are. They provide meaning to our lives and shape our behaviour. Where belief or value systems become absolute - leaving no room to alternative interpretations - and are imposed on others, we speak of 'fundamentalism'. Women, gay and lesbian people and people living with HIV/Aids are the first victims of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism threatens the peaceful co-existence of people belonging to different ethnic, social, religious or cultural groups.

What is pluralism?

Pluralism in Hivos' view is accepting diversity and engaging with the other. Pluralism is more than tolerance, it is active seeking of understanding across line of difference. Pluralism is not relativism, it does not require leaving identities behind. Yet it requires accepting the rights of others, the right to design one's own life, the right to be different. Promoting Pluralism does not mean prescribing any specific way of organising society or political system - it means opening spaces for dialogue and human equality.