International comparisons of the rights of cultural minorities: Integration of philosophical and historical approaches

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This study attempted to analyze the various aspects of the recent defense of the rights of minority cultures. First, the study attempted to construct an analytical framework that integrates both philosophical and historical approaches. In order to do so, the study attempted to read some basic literatures dealing the issues of minority cultures written by such writers as John Rawls, Michael Walzer, Will Kymlicka and Bhikhu Parekh. One of the major findings of the research was that the focus of these writers have recently revealed a significant move from abstract arguments regarding identity to more concrete arguments regarding policies necessary to implement the demands of minority cultures. Second, the study has conducted a through-going field research in North America, West Europe and East Europe. One of the major findings of the study was that the arguments for minorities can be classified into the strategic considerations regarding the political movements for recognition of the minority identities and the arguments for implementing policies for cultural coexistence. Third, the study has attempted to figure out the future visions of policy systems for accommodating cultural minorities in Japan by comparing these foreign arguments with those of the contemporary Japan. It revealed that one feature of Japanese cultural minority lies in its weak voices, which means that minority cultures in Japan should seek for cooperation with other minority groups in order to secure stronger voices for recognition.