icis-e-book-14.pdf
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… that have been contested by politicians, the media and civil society. Cultural diversity is an important asset to any society, but perceived incompatibility can lead to destabilisation of the cultural system underpinning any sustainable society. Therefore this chapter assesses how cultural diversity can express itself in the contestation of value claims and what this implies for the opportunities given to religious minorities to substantiate their identity. It used halal food production and … a cultural-aesthetic dimension, claiming that cultural vitality is a basic requirement for a healthy society (Hawkes, 2001), that respect for cultural diversity, identities, local language, and cultural integrity is crucial, and that open dialogue should be promoted. Others argue for a political-institutional dimension, which encompasses organisations as well as institutional norms and formal rules and procedures. Proponents of a religious-spiritual dimension of sustainable development … explained that equal opportunities and cultural diversity in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance are needed, but not easily achieved. In fact, attaining Chapter 14 Governance of religious diversity 159 this goal has become even more difficult in an era when the governance of diversity is being criticised and the value of certain lifestyles is being questioned. Some even argue that multicultural societies in Europe are becoming too diverse to ensure social cohesion (Grillo, 2007). This growing tension …