La laicite republicaine et l'islam public

In: Pouvoirs: revue française d'études constitutionnelles et politiques, Heft 115, S. 73-86

Abstract

For non-European countries such as Turkey & Mexico, the move toward modernity has meant the adoption of the French model of secularism rather than the Anglo-Saxon process of secularization. Today, however, the emergence of public Islam, of Islam in the public space -- as exemplified by the debate about the veil in France as well as in Turkey -- represents a challenge for the Republic whose secular & mono-cultural foundation is questioned. The contemporary Turkish experience offers a good opportunity to analyze the complex & tensed relationship between Republican secularism & the Muslim presence & to stress the dangers of confusing the public space & the Republic. The Turkish candidacy to membership of the European Union has revived & amplified the debate: Does Europe want to be a system of boundaries aiming to protect her against what she considers as the "other," or does she want to show its political capacity to redraw these boundaries by projecting herself into the future? Adapted from the source document.