Murder in Amsterdam: Liberal Europe, Islam, and the Limits of Tolerance

Throughout Murder in Amsterdam, Buruma alludes directly to the German Occupation of the Netherlands during World War II and the treatment of Dutch Jews. How does this historical guilt hang over and influence modern-day Dutch politics and society?

Freedom of speech is considered to be a basic right for those living in modern Western liberal democracies. However, in recent years, the rise of politically correct culture has often served to demonize those who speak out too harshly against perceived minority groups. In what ways, if at all, is it possible to balance one’s right to free speech with the need to not offend minority groups whose beliefs and culture might be different from that of the majority?

One of the main European liberal tenets to emerge from the radical political shake-ups of the 1960s was the idea of multi-culturalism, the belief that multiple cultures can exist independently yet side-by-side within the same nation without conflict occurring. Opponents of multi-culturalism argue that this prevents immigrants from fully assimilating into society and allows for the creation of parallel societies that have their own codes of conduct and social norms, which many times run counter to the foundational constitution of their adopted countries. Is multi-culturalism possible, or should it be required for immigrants to assimilate into the culture of their adopted homelands?

In the welfare state it is presumed that the government is responsible for the well-being of its citizens. However, in regard to immigrants, many feel that the welfare state, through assistance and subsidies, de-incentivizes many immigrants to take on personal responsibility. Is there such a thing as too much assistance, or are the abundance of government social programs a necessary evil required to make sure that people can survive in a society that is not their own?

One major social philosophy present in today’s academic discourse is the ideal of Cultural Relativism, the notion that is impossible to compare cultures with one another because they are all unique and intrinsically different. This eschews the idea that one culture can be “better” than another. Do you believe this to be the case, or do you believe that cultures can and should be ranked according to the practices and norms found within them?

Theo van Gogh was primarily an artist who used his art to make political statements, and it cost him his life. What is the role of art in politics and politics in art? Are they both forever intertwined, or should they remain separate entities that never overlap with each other?

In his discussion with the Moroccan psychiatrist Bellari Said, Buruma relates how Said has noted a high rate of schizophrenia in second-generation immigrants born in the Netherlands. They often feel a sense of displacement and exist in a limbo in which they are neither Dutch nor citizens of their ancestral countries. How is identity constructed? What are some foundational elements that lead to one’s identity and what one identifies as?

The Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, has long been thought of as the great success story of Western European liberalization. Legalized drugs, prostitution, and a general atmosphere of tolerance are three things that come to mind when one thinks of the Netherlands; however, it is exactly this level of tolerance and freedom that seem to have such adverse effects on the immigrant community. Do you feel it is possible to have too much freedom, and that in its way, excessive freedom can be detrimental? If so, why?