The Virtuous Citizen

What does it mean to be a citizen in a multicultural society? And what role must patriotism play in defining our relationship with our country and fellow citizens? In The Virtuous Citizen Tim Soutphommasane answers these questions with a critical defence of liberal nationalism. Considering a range of contemporary political debates from Europe North America and Australia over issues including multiculturalism national history civic education and immigration Soutphommasane argues that a love of country should be valued alongside tolerance mutual respect and public reasonableness as a civic virtue. A liberal form of patriotism grounded in national identity is if anything essential for political stability in a diverse society. This book is required reading not only for political theorists and philosophers but also for researchers and professionals in political science sociology history and public policy.