Muscular liberalism is a form of liberalism advocated by British Prime Minister David Cameron that describes his policy towards state multiculturalism.[1]
Cameron coined the term in a speech in Munich on 5 February 2011. According to David Cameron, "Under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and apart from the mainstream. We've failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong."[2]
Critics and speculators believe "muscular liberalism" will be the new "ism" which Britain will follow to tackle growing religious terrorism and extremism, subsequently adapted by all European countries including Commonwealth Nations.[3]
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The theory is that multiculturalism has shifted from tolerating multiple cultures to tolerating multiple value systems, which can be hostile to liberalism.[4]
Cameron delivered these principles during a speech on Radicalization and the causes of Terrorism at European Union international conference on Security Policy in Munich to tackle growing terrorism so as to be less passive towards religious hate and whip against growing extremist activists through Muscular Liberalism.
The speech and the principles angered the Muslim group as David Cameron called for a tougher stance against islamist terrorism while differentiating Islam from Islamic terrorism as an ideology which attracted people who feel "rootless" within their own countries.
According to Baroness Neville-Jones, Security Minister of Britain, extremism meant all forms but not just islamist extremism. Ajmal Masroor, of the Islamic Society of Britain, rejected it, saying that national identity, multiculturalism and extremism are not connected.
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has said that he agrees with Cameron.[5]
It is generally recognised that Cameron was influenced by Sir Karl Popper when he wrote about the "paradox of tolerance". When intolerance is tolerated, tolerance itself is threatened.
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