This subject of this thesis is toleration in the Netherlands after 2000. It presents an analysis of a number of parliamentary debates that have bearing on the treatment of religious and cultural... Show moreThis subject of this thesis is toleration in the Netherlands after 2000. It presents an analysis of a number of parliamentary debates that have bearing on the treatment of religious and cultural diversity in the Netherlands and on the integration of newcomers to Dutch society. It focuses on parliamentary debates since 2000 because of reports of diminishing tolerance and increasing assimilationism in the Netherlands post-2000. The question this research attempts to answer is how parliament conceives of the place and role of __moral communities__, i.e. ethnic, religious, or cultural communities, in the Netherlands. It specifically aims to determine to which degree and on what grounds moral communities are regarded as having the liberty to remain distinct from Dutch society and to what extent and on what grounds their members are required to integrate or assimilate. To that end liberal political philosophy, i.e. political philosophy investigating the grounds, form, and scope of individual liberty, is applied as an analytical tool in this research. Show less
The integration of Latin America has been a complex process. It has been characterized as a journey of improvements and setbacks, of sewing and then tearing apart. The main issue has been how to... Show moreThe integration of Latin America has been a complex process. It has been characterized as a journey of improvements and setbacks, of sewing and then tearing apart. The main issue has been how to build a strong and cohesive region in a context of strong nation states. The process of independence in the 19th century led to a debate concerning the creation of the Bolivarian inspired __Patria Grande__ (__Great Nation__) or the construction of separate states. While the Westphalian model of nation state ultimately triumphed, the yearning for regional integration remained encoded in Latin America__s aspirations. The pull towards integration was dormant following independence, as most countries rejected the goal of institutionalized and supranational associations. This pull regained strength after the turbulent period of both World Wars and the Great Depression, events that led countries to rethink their international insertion strategies. Show less
