Recognition, conflict and the problem of ethical community

Recognition has become a key theme in contemporary political, social and international relations theory. Its centrality to social life appears almost self-evident given that how we recognise others and are recognised by others is fundamental to both the identity of individual subjects and the relations between self and other in ethical community. It follows that recognition is also central to political life: nominally, as a necessity in the formation of self-identity and therefore something properly basic to relations between selfand other; expansively, as a normative foundation for ethico-political relations concernedwith the mutual recognition of all members of society (both individuals and groups), theactualisation of their capacities, respect of their identity, and esteem of their socialcontribution.