Emblems of Pluralism
Cultural Differences and the State
Introduction
"TODAY we take the state for granted," writes Joseph Strayer. "We grumble
about its demands; we complain that it is encroaching more and more on
what used to be our private concerns." At the same time, he says, we can
hardly conceive of life without the state. "The old forms of social
identification are no longer absolutely necessary. A man can lead a
reasonably full life without a family, a fixed local residence, or a
religious affiliation, but if he is stateless he is nothing." Such a
person has "no rights, no security, and little opportunity for a useful
career." The conclusion is there "is no salvation on earth outside the
framework of an organized state."
We shape our experiences as citizens of the state. At the same time we are
members of other groups. The norms to which we are subject as citizens are
called law. The norms of groups other than the state are, at least
initially, often called roles or frames. When these solidify, when the
group is identified and the relationship between the individual a ... read full excerpt from Emblems of Pluralism: Cultural Differences and the State ebook
