Cultural citizenship is a new term to highlight that participating in society is not just a legal or political issue but has a cultural dimension as well. For example, citizens need stories, performances and role models to express who they are. In this Research Master Thesis, political philosopher Frederik Boven brings together authors from philosophy, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies and cultural policy. The authors include Paul Ricoeur, Will Kymlicka, Jeffrey Alexander, and Renato Rosaldo. Combining methods from transdisciplinary studies and cognitive linguistis, an agenda for is developed for a wide-ranging debate on cultural citizenship.
This Research Master Thesis focuses on the Netherlands, where the relationship between culture and citizenship has become particularly contested in the beginning of the 21th century. Immigrants, especially Muslims, have seen their citizenship called in question. Dutch artists have faced severe budget cuts. As everywhere, gays and women struggle for respect and visibility in the public domain. Three recommendation are made to deal with these issues: (1) make culture equally accessible to all citizens; (2) protect the richness and viability of culture; (3) balance unity and diversity.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Section 1.1: The conversation frame and the debate frame
- Section 1.2: 'The Dutch windmill': a problem situation in the Netherlands
- Chapter 2: Key concepts
- Section 2.1: Cultural citizenship
- Section 2.2: A transdisciplinary debate
- Section 2.3: An integrative agenda
- Chapter 3: Formulating research questions
- Section 3.1: Procedure
- Section 3.2: The modernism-postmodernism debate
- Section 3.3: The Council for Culture
- Section 3.4: Renato Rosaldo
- Section 3.5: Nick Stevenson
- Section 3.6: Paul Scheffer
- Section 3.7: Will Kymlicka
- Section 3.8: Jeffrey Alexander
- Section 3.9: Paul Ricoeur
- Chapter 4: Integrating research questions
- Section 4.1: Single normative question
- Section 4.2: Principle I: make culture equally accessible to all citizens
- Section 4.3: Principle II: protect the richness and viability of culture
- Section 4.4: Principle III: balance unity and diversity
- Section 4.5: Structured list of research questions
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis addresses a problem in the Netherlands concerning the role of culture in citizen functioning, framing it as a 'cultural citizenship' issue. The goal is to develop a research agenda for a transdisciplinary debate on this essentially contested concept. This involves integrating perspectives from diverse fields and paradigms to formulate a cohesive and actionable research framework.
- Cultural Citizenship as an Essentially Contested Concept
- Transdisciplinary Debate and Integration of Diverse Perspectives
- Formulation of a Research Agenda for Cultural Citizenship
- Identification of Normative Principles for Cultural Policy
- Analysis of the Interaction Between Culture and Citizenship
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter introduces the central problem: questioning the effectiveness of culture's contribution to citizen well-being in the Netherlands. It frames this as a 'cultural citizenship' problem, highlighting the concept's inherent ambiguity and its potential to spark a wide-ranging, transdisciplinary discussion. The chapter sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the concept and lays the groundwork for the development of a comprehensive research agenda, specifically focusing on the “Dutch Windmill” as a metaphor for the problem at hand. The introduction also establishes the framework for the thesis by differentiating between the conversation and debate frames, setting the stage for future chapters which dive deeper into the scholarly discussions surrounding cultural citizenship.
Chapter 2: Key concepts: This chapter delves into the core concepts that underpin the thesis: cultural citizenship, transdisciplinary debate, and an integrative research agenda. It provides detailed definitions and explores the nuances of these concepts, setting the theoretical groundwork for the subsequent analysis. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding the framework that governs the thesis and its approach to analyzing cultural citizenship across various disciplines and paradigms. The integration of these concepts is key to developing a comprehensive research agenda for the study of cultural citizenship.
Chapter 3: Formulating research questions: This chapter presents a systematic review of relevant literature. It analyzes the works of seven authors representing diverse fields and paradigms—the Dutch Council for Culture, Renato Rosaldo, Nick Stevenson, Paul Scheffer, Will Kymlicka, Jeffrey Alexander, and Paul Ricoeur—to extract research questions relevant to cultural citizenship in the Netherlands. The chapter highlights different theoretical perspectives on the topic and uses these perspectives to develop a more comprehensive research approach. The 78 research questions derived from this analysis provide a rich starting point for a deeper dive into the complex nuances of cultural citizenship.
Chapter 4: Integrating research questions: This chapter synthesizes the numerous research questions from Chapter 3 into a more concise and structured set of questions. It aims to consolidate the insights gained from various authors into a cohesive and manageable research agenda. The chapter ultimately formulates a single, overarching normative question and identifies three key normative principles that should guide any policy interventions aiming to address the Dutch cultural citizenship problem. These principles serve as a framework for future research and policy recommendations.
Keywords
Cultural citizenship, transdisciplinary debate, integrative research agenda, Netherlands, culture, citizenship, normative principles, policy interventions, access to culture, cultural diversity, unity and diversity.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this thesis?
This thesis examines the role of culture in citizen functioning within the Netherlands, framing it as a "cultural citizenship" issue. It aims to develop a research agenda for a transdisciplinary debate on this complex concept.
What is the goal of this research?
The primary goal is to create a cohesive and actionable research framework for understanding cultural citizenship in the Netherlands. This involves integrating perspectives from various disciplines and paradigms to address a significant societal problem.
What are the key concepts explored in the thesis?
The core concepts include cultural citizenship (as an essentially contested concept), transdisciplinary debate, and the development of an integrative research agenda. The thesis carefully defines and explores the nuances of each concept.
How does the thesis approach the problem of cultural citizenship?
The thesis uses a transdisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from diverse fields. It analyzes the works of several key authors to extract relevant research questions, ultimately synthesizing them into a focused research agenda guided by core normative principles.
Which authors are discussed in the thesis?
The thesis analyzes the works of the Dutch Council for Culture, Renato Rosaldo, Nick Stevenson, Paul Scheffer, Will Kymlicka, Jeffrey Alexander, and Paul Ricoeur, drawing upon their diverse theoretical perspectives on cultural citizenship.
What is the structure of the thesis?
The thesis is structured into four chapters: Chapter 1 provides an introduction and frames the problem; Chapter 2 defines key concepts; Chapter 3 formulates research questions based on the reviewed literature; and Chapter 4 integrates these questions into a structured research agenda guided by normative principles.
What are the key normative principles identified in the thesis?
The thesis identifies three key normative principles for cultural policy: (I) make culture equally accessible to all citizens; (II) protect the richness and viability of culture; and (III) balance unity and diversity.
What is the "Dutch Windmill" metaphor used for?
The "Dutch Windmill" serves as a metaphor for the complex problem of cultural citizenship in the Netherlands, highlighting the challenges and the need for a multi-faceted approach to address it.
What is the overarching normative question formulated in the thesis?
The thesis culminates in a single, overarching normative question that guides the integrated research agenda. (The specific question is not explicitly stated in the provided preview.)
What are the key words associated with this thesis?
Key words include: Cultural citizenship, transdisciplinary debate, integrative research agenda, Netherlands, culture, citizenship, normative principles, policy interventions, access to culture, cultural diversity, unity and diversity.
What is the intended audience for this thesis?
The intended audience is primarily academic, focusing on researchers and scholars interested in cultural citizenship, transdisciplinary research, and cultural policy.
- Citation du texte
- Frederik Boven (Auteur), 2014, Cultural Citizenship. An Integrative Agenda for a Transdisciplinary Debate, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282396
