Abstract
Today, countries are not characterized by one nation but by different ethnic groups. Resolving conflicts between minorities and majorities concerning issues such as territory autonomy, language, political representation and education has posed a huge challenge for multiethnic states. This raises the question of specific rights for individuals and groups who feel culturally at a disadvantage compared to the majority. Multiculturalism policies question the coherence of minority rights with liberalism. Liberalism is an ideology that "strives to maximize individual freedom through rights and law". It includes the equality of rights for all citizens under the law. Yet, some individuals that belong to minority cultures face cultural inequality, in the sense that their culture is undermined by decisions of people outside the community. The implementation of minority rights is likely to correct those imbalances but their coherence with liberal principles is often put at stake. Are minority rights consistent with liberal ideology and are they central to the future of ?liberal tradition'? Should rights adhere to the groups in entirety or just to the individual?
