The strong propensity of individuals to combine into groups, and of groups to constitute a civil society that is more or less distinct from both individuals and the state, or at least stands between them, is a fact to which liberal theory has given much prominence, especially recently. This propensity is part of what it means to be an individual in society, and nothing in liberal theory suggests otherwise. Profound tensions arise within the liberal tradition, however, when the state accords legal rights or duties to groups qua group that may override those of individuals, or when it grounds individuals’ rights or duties on their group membership, especially membership that the state imputes to them without their consent (Kymlicka, 1995). These tensions are further discussed toward the conclusion of this chapter.