Why liberal modus vivendi is exclusionary

This article offers a critical assessment of recent arguments for a rediscovery of modus vivendi arrangements, in particular the arguments of David McCabe, John Horton, John Gray, and Fabian Wendt. Because these writers ask how modus vivendi arrangements may contribute to the inclusion of illiberal doctrines and dissenting minorities, it seems possible to think that they more readily contribute to strategies for securing participation for all citizens than other liberal accounts. Despite their recognition of the widespread diffusion of illiberal values and different worldviews, modus vivendi arrangements are also exclusionary. While arguments for modus vivendi may supply reasons for illiberal citizens to participate, a careful examination shows that modus vivendi arrangements preclude participation of groups whose practices conflict with mainstream sensibility.