The innocent beginnings of multiculturalism.

Fukuyama identifies the first stirring of the monster:

Multiculturalism, as it was originally conceived in Canada, America and Europe, was in some sense a “game at the end of history”. That is, cultural diversity was seen as a kind of ornament to liberal pluralism that would provide ethnic food, colourful dress and traces of distinctive historical traditions to societies often seen as numbingly conformist and homogeneous. Cultural diversity was something to be practised largely in the private sphere, where it would not lead to any serious violations of individual rights or otherwise challenge the essentially liberal social order.

By contrast, some contemporary Muslim communities (and those of other religions) are making demands for group rights that simply cannot be squared with liberal principles of individual equality.

"’The wrong kind of freedom endangers the West’- Short Essay By Francis Fukayama." Sigmund, Carl and Alfred, 1/28/07. Originally published in Sunday Times of London (link only goes to main page).