Using Spanish law to block Catalonia’s independence consultation may simply encourage Catalans to construct their own ‘alternative legality’

The Catalan government has pledged to hold a consultation on independence from Spain on 9 November, under a different legal basis from the proposal that Catalan President Artur Mas had originally announced, which was declared illegal by the Spanish constitutional court. Nevertheless, with less than a week until the vote, the latest plan is also facing a legal challenge and might also be blocked. Neus Torbisco Casals and Nico Krisch assess whether the use of legal obstacles to prevent a Catalan independence referendum is likely to be successful long-term. They argue that while the law within a state is afforded a degree of legitimacy, it cannot provide a solution entirely. Only a political agreement which recognises the views of Catalonia’s citizens can provide a lasting settlement

Multiculturalism, Identity Claims, and Human Rights: From Politics to Courts

Across Europe, courts (both domestic and international) are increasingly playing a central role in dealing with identity-driven conflicts across deeply entrenched ethnocultural divides. At the outset, many of these controversies are seemingly religious or cultural disputes, involving the interpretation of individual rights such as freedom of conscience, freedom of association, and freedom of religion. Yet if we scratch beyond the surface, there is much more at stake in these disputes, or so this paper contends. Broader disagreements that confront majority and minority cultures regarding group rights and the shifting intersections between religion, ethnicity, and gender are played out in these judicial battles. The paper traces the so-called "crisis of multiculturalism” in the European political rhetoric and practice and highlights its impact on the de-juridification of cultural rights and on the tendency to seek accommodation through litigation (typically by minority litigants increasingly frustrated with the political backlash against their rights). It then inquires into the prospects of this strategy, pointing out the limitations courts face when adjudicating identity conflicts pertaining to minority groups traditionally disadvantaged in mainstream political processes. These concerns are illustrated through revisiting a number of controversies over Muslim veils that have been resolved by the European Court of Human Rights. The paper cautiously concludes that a shift toward more participatory political processes is more likely to mitigate the decline of progressive forms of multiculturalism and consolidate minority rights

Law and the practise of principle in diverse societies

Projecte de recerca elaborat a partir d’una estada a la London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, entre 2007 i 2009. L’objecte principal del projecte ha estat analitzar les implicacions jurídico-polítiques i institucionals d’una teoria de la justícia i la igualtat liberals aplicada a societats multiculturals amb un marcat predomini de la diversitat cultural. L’anàlisi desenvolupa una línia d'investigació interdisciplinar - entre el dret i la teoria política - iniciada en una tesis doctoral sobre multiculturalisme i drets de les minories culturals (UPF, 2000) que va culminar en la publicació de Group Rights as Human Rights (Springer, 2006). La recerca adopta com a punt de partida les conclusions de l'esmentada obra, en especial, la rellevància del reconeixement de drets col•lectius; tanmateix, el tipus de qüestions plantejades, l’enfoc i la metodologia emprades són substancialment diferents. En concret, s'adrecen preguntes específiques sobre el model i aspiracions del constitucionalisme democràtic i el paper del dret en contextos multiculturals. També s’atorga un pes central a la dimensió institucional dels models de gestió de la diversitat que s’analitzen, prioritzant un enfocament comparatiu a partir de l’estudi de controvèrsies concretes. L’objectiu és superar algunes limitacions importants de la literatura actual, com ara la tendència a examinar en abstracte la compatibilitat de determinades demandes amb el constitucionalisme democràtic, sense abordar el funcionament d'estratègies de gestió de la diversitat cultural emprades en contextos concrets. Els treballs producte d'aquest projecte articulen les línies bàsiques d’un model pluralista, basat en principis més que en regles, que desafia els plantejaments dominants actualment. Aquest model es caracteritza pel compromís amb la legitimitat i igualtat comparatives, rebutjant el paternalisme i les visions liberals típiques sobre el paper de la regulació. La presumpció de l’“standing” moral dels grups identitaris és fonamental per tal de considerar-los interlocutors vàlids amb interessos genuïns. També s’argumenta que la integració social en contextos multiculturals no depèn tant de l’eliminació del conflicte sinó, sobre tot, d’una gestió eficient que eviti abusos de poder sistemàtics. El model defensa el rol del dret en la institucionalització del diàleg intercultural, però admet que el diàleg no necessàriament condueix a l’acord o a una estructura reguladora coherent i uniforme. Les aspiracions del ordre jurídic pluralista són més modestes: afavorir la negociació i resolució en cada conflicte, malgrat la persistència de la fragmentació i la provisionalitat dels acords. La manca d'un marc regulador comú esdevé una virtut en la mesura que permet la interacció de diferents subordres; una interacció governada per una multiplicitat de regles no necessàriament harmòniques. Els avantatges i problemes d’aquest model s'analitzen a partir de l'anàlisi de l’estructura fragmentària de l'ordre jurídic internacional i del règim Europeu de drets humans.Report for the scientific sojourn at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, from 2007 to 2009. The main goal of the project has been to examine the legal, political and institutional implications of a theory of justice and equality applied to liberal multicultural societies with high levels of cultural diversity. The analysis develops a line of interdisciplinary research - between law and political theory - that started in a PhD thesis on multiculturalism and cultural rights of minorities (UPF, 2000) and culminated in the publication of Group Rights as Human Rights ( Springer, 2006).  The research project takes the main conclusions of the aforementioned work as a starting point - specially the relevance of recognising collective rights. Yet the type of issues that are raised as well as the approach and methodology are significantly different. In particular, the research addresses specific questions about the model and aspirations of democratic constitutionalism and the role of law in multicultural contexts. In addition, specific attention is given to institutional dimension of the different models for managing diversity that are examined, focusing especifically on comparative approaches to particular disputes. The aim is to overcome some limitations of the current literature, such as the tendency to consider the compatibility of certain demands with democratic constitutionalism in the abstract, without taking into account how particular strategies for managing real controversies have worked out in specific contexts. The outcome of the project consists of a series of pieces in which I tried to articulate the main lines of a pluralistic model that challenges the prevailing approaches in legal theory. While this model is committed to preserve comparative legitimacy and equality, it rejects both liberal and paternalistic views on the role of regulation. The presumption of equal standing of identity groups is seen as crucial to see them as valid interlocutors with genuine interests. I also argue that social integration in multicultural contexts depends not so much on eliminating conflict but rather on its efficient management, as well as on regulations aimed at preventing systematic abuses of power. The model upholds the role of law in institutionalising intercultural dialogue. Yet dialogue does not necessarily lead to agreement or to a common and consistent regulatory framework. The aspirations of the pluralistic legal order are somehow more modest: to promote negotiation and consensus in the face of particular conflicts rather than lasting agreements. Despite the results in terms of fragmentation of the legal order, the lack of a common regulatory framework is taken as a virtue for it allows the interaction between different legal suborders governed by a multiplicity of rules that are not necessarily harmonic. The advantages and problems of this model are explored through analysing the fragmented structure of the international legal order as well as the European human rights regime

Identity conflicts, human rights and the crisis of multiculturalism in Europe: from politics to the courts

Across Europe, courts play a central role in dealing with identity-driven conflicts across entrenched socio-cultural divides. Many of these controversies are seemingly religious disputes, involving the interpretation of individual rights. Judges are presented with what they see as a familiar legal challenge of demarcating the legitimate exercise of rights and assessing the grounds for accommodating or restricting a given expression. Yet, there is much more at stake in these disputes. This paper traces the so-called ‘crisis of multiculturalism’ in the rhetoric and political practice in many countries highlighting its influence in the tendency to seek accommodation through litigation. It inquires into the prospects of this strategy, pointing out the limitations courts face when dealing with identity conflicts pertaining to minority groups traditionally disadvantaged in mainstream political processes. The paper cautiously concludes that a shift towards more participatory political processes can foster the understanding necessary for mitigating identity conflicts

The legitimacy of international courts: the challenge of diversity

Research for this article was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation through project grant 100011_178910 (research project FNS2142: Diversity on the International Bench: Building Legitimacy for International Courts and Tribunals)

Minorías culturales y derechos colectivos: un enfoque liberal

El propósito de la tesis es analizar el problema de la justificación de la atribución de derechos colectivos a las minorias cuturales. En los últimos años este debate ha cobrado un protagonismo especial, tanto en la filosofía política como en el derecho público. El punto de partida de este debate se halla en una crítica general al liberalismo por la escasa atención prestada a fenómenos como el multiculturalismo, el nacionalismo o las migraciones masivas, o a temas como la influencia de la pertenencia a determinados grupos étnicos, lingüísticos y culturales en el desarrollo humano, tanto personal como social. En tanto categoría distinta a los derechos individuales, los derechos colectivos se configuran como un instrumento de legitimación de una amplia diversidad de demandas que se plantean en estados con elevados índices de pluralismo social. Por regla, sus proponentes pretenden enfatizar las limitaciones del sistema democráticos y de los derechos individuales en tanto instrumentos de promoción de la igualdad substancial entre grupos así como de resolución de conflictos.Sin embargo, el encaje de estos derechos en el esquema general de protección de los derechos humanos individuales sigue siendo muy confuso. Según muchos críticos, la justificación subyacente a los derechos colectivos se basa en presupuestos incompatibles con el proyecto de sociedad democrática inherente al liberalismo, lo cual conduce a una incompatibilidad de principio entre estos derechos y los derechos individuales. Esta tesis pretende cuestionar esta conclusión predominante en muchas aproximaciones teóricas a los derechos colectivos. Para ello se han analizado críticamente las aportaciones de los principales autores que se insertan en una nueva corriente de pensamiento dentro del liberalismo -el llamado "multiculturalismo liberal"- y en que medida suponen una nueva interpretación de los principios de libertad, igualdad y dignidad humanas. Se trata de las obras de Will Kymlicka, Yael Tamir, David Miller y Charles Taylor, entre otros autores, que han teorizado sobre la idea de derechos colectivos, justificándolos a partir de la relevancia moral de la pertenencia cultural que entienden como un bien primario en términos rawlsianos

Identity conflicts, human rights and the crisis of multiculturalism in Europe: from politics to the courts

Across Europe, courts play a central role in dealing with identity-driven conflicts across entrenched socio-cultural divides. Many of these controversies are seemingly religious disputes, involving the interpretation of individual rights. Judges are presented with what they see as a familiar legal challenge of demarcating the legitimate exercise of rights and assessing the grounds for accommodating or restricting a given expression. Yet, there is much more at stake in these disputes. This paper traces the so-called ‘crisis of multiculturalism’ in the rhetoric and political practice in many countries highlighting its influence in the tendency to seek accommodation through litigation. It inquires into the prospects of this strategy, pointing out the limitations courts face when dealing with identity conflicts pertaining to minority groups traditionally disadvantaged in mainstream political processes. The paper cautiously concludes that a shift towards more participatory political processes can foster the understanding necessary for mitigating identity conflicts

Concepto y fundamentos de los derechos humanos, septiembre 2012

Recurs d'aprenentatge de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.Recurso de aprendizaje de la "Universitat Oberta de Catalunya".Learning resource of the "Universitat Oberta de Catalunya"