Will Kymlicka Genocide

Genocide is not just a random action of mass killing, but rather a process of marginalization and discrimination eventually resulting in mass murder. The group dynamics are a significant baseline for understanding the development of marginalization.

Will Kymlicka provides a basis for understanding the context of Myanmar in his description of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is the political philosophy about response to diversity through group-differentiated rights, meaning that a state can adopt policies of multiculturalism that grant individuals and minority groups accommodations without “eroding core liberal-democratic values”. Kymlicka expresses that shared values can form a basis for unity, not just shared identity; however, Kymlicka does not elaborate but rather leaves possible solutions to future scholars. Multiculturalism requires definition of categorization of people to address the dynamics of majority/minority group relations.

The first typology is that of Poly-ethnic states, where there are different ethnic groups but not national groups, meaning that the ethnic groups have a shared culture and language with the majority group, and there is not territorial divide. This is usually due to voluntary immigration. Typically in poly-ethnic states minority ethnic groups seek protection of their cultures and

languages as a means to integrate into dominate culture without loss of their identities.
The second typology is that of ethno-cultural groups that are part of a multi-national state.

Minority national groups have distinct culture, language, and usually territory within a state. National groups tend to advance claims of self-determination, which can lead to succession and violence in some cases. Myanmar fits this description since the national minority groups speak their own languages, have different customs, and are generally concentrated in specific states. Additionally, the Karen minority group, the Rohingya, and other minorities within Myanmar have fought for self-determination which has been a source of violence across

Myanmar.
Critics argue that democracy requires common citizenship which treats people identically; therefore, multiculturalism does not fit with liberal ideologies. Kymlicka’s rebut is multiculturalism and accommodations for minority groups actually reflect the minorities’ desires to integrate. Another critique of Multiculturalism is there is a need to test the Liberal Multiculturalism Hypothesis against empirical evidence, which will require dramatic revision.
The typologies are limited to citizens, which becomes problematic in the case of the Rohingya, since they are considered illegal immigrants by the government. Kymlicka addresses that the desire for self-rule by minority national groups prevents the formation of common citizenship, and that force assimilation can lead to violent outbreaks. But what he misses is how majority groups can marginalize a group to the extreme of stripping citizenship yet not allowing succession, creating a stateless nation. Furthermore, the research is limited in discourse analysis and what the discourse surrounding marginalization of minority groups and how this leads to genocide or other acts of mass atrocities.