New Zealand has an increasingly diverse population. How can we keep a diverse society democratic and, conversely, how can we make democratic practice more inclusive in a diverse society?

This forum will analyse three enduring tensions in the practice of democracy:

·    individual rights that all share equally versus special group rights

·    individual liberty versus the common good
     (liberty versus fraternity)

·    democracy conceived and practiced as a 'market' versus
     democracy as a 'forum'.

The question then is how to manage these tensions in public life. Some options that will be presented for discussion are:

·    pragmatism (of the crude, horse-trading sort)

·    unwavering, winner-takes-all pursuit of some particular social
     arrangement or end state

·    pragmatism with principles (but which principles, and is the
     'western' liberal tradition itself up for grabs?).

Dr David Bromell is a Senior Associate of the Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, and a Principal Advisor in the Ministry of Social Development. He previously worked in pastoral ministry, tertiary education, and governance and management in the community and voluntary sector.

He is the author of:

Ethnicity, Identity and Public Policy: Critical perspectives on multiculturalism

(Institute of Policy Studies, 2008) – reviewed in Future Times, 2009, vol. 4

'Recognition, redistribution and democratic inclusion' in The Politics of Conformity in New Zealand, ed. R. Openshaw and E. Rata (Pearson, 2009).

Cost: New Zealand Futures Trust members:        $ 5

 Non- NZFT members:                 $15

Please register your interest in attending using the form below by Monday 22 March 2010.

Contact details: Box 12 008, Wellington, 6144.  Ph: Yvonne 04 383 5080,

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