How can anagreement between ethnic diversity and political integration be reached? When is the decision of a group justified? In order to analyse these questions, we will compare the situation of minorities in a clearly defined territory with that of immigrant minorities. Moreover, the necessity for recognition can be justified and as a result the need to live in accordance with cultural and linguistic peculiarities. Central for the desire for recognition is that a determinated self claims the right to determinate (...) her own political, economic and/or cultural matters for herself. This gives equal chances and thus equal treatment to all people. Self-determination can develop to the aspiration of secession, which is accompanied by conflicts. An open theory of selfdetermination shows new perspectives for conflict regulation. (shrink)

The challenges associated with the issue of migration have led to growing conflicts over the distribution of resources and have put the existing legal order in peril. This has also created dilemmas when it comes to matters of religion. These circumstances have called into question the theory of contemporary liberalism in Germany. In order to show this, I will analyze a few representatives of contemporary liberal theory. Among them are the philosophers John Rawls, with his „Theory of Justice“; Ronald Dworkin (...) and his proposal to further develop Rawls’ theory through the creation of an equal starting position; Michael Walzer and his counter to Rawls’ theory found in the book „Spheres of Justice“ in which he presents the idea of a complex equality; as well as Charles Taylor and his theoretical analysis. Based on this analysis, I will present a new concept-proposal of a liberal theory. (shrink)