Unveiling the French Republic : National Identity, Secularism, and Islam in Contemporary France.
- 1st ed.
- 1 online resource (239 pages)
- Studies in Critical Research on Religion Series ; v.7 .
- Studies in Critical Research on Religion Series .
Intro -- Unveiling the French Republic -- Contents -- Series Editor's Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Introduction: Everybody Welcome to France -- Approaching French Secularism -- (French) Secularism -- Secularization, the Secular, and Secularism -- Secularism(s) -- Critique -- Incongruities -- Contradictions -- A Western Gaze? -- Previous Research on the Islamic Veil Affairs and Secularism -- Analyzing Secularism -- A Critical Approach to Secularism -- Secularism as Governmentality -- Secularism as Discourse -- A Shield Against Alterity -- The Islamic Veil Affairs -- 1989 -- 2003-2004 -- 2007-2011 -- State Feminism and the Other-Woman -- Alterity and Communitarianism -- Nation, Assimilation -- The First Islamic Veil Affair -- Ideological Battle Flags -- A New and Unwanted Situation -- Post-Christian Islamic Challenges -- A Question of Integration? -- Manipulation -- Islamic Communitarianism -- A Glocalized World -- Particular Versus National Law -- Discrimination and Violence -- Over T/here -- Attacking Secularism -- Behind the Veil -- What Does It Represent? -- Why Do They Wear It? -- Conclusion -- Inventing Secularism -- An Unruly March Towards Unity -- From Clash to Atonement -- Exceptionality -- The Cornerstone of the Republic -- (Forced) Liberty -- Equality and Neutrality -- Brotherhood, Integration and French Communitarianism -- Legislation, Education -- Consensus -- Urgency -- Legislative Pedagogy -- An Anti-Islamic Law? -- Conclusion -- The Second Islamic Veil Affair -- The Tip of the Iceberg -- New Times, Old Threats -- The Return of Religion -- Over T/here -- Stigmatization? -- Walking Coffins -- A Religious and/or Political Symbol -- An Attack on the Republic's Principles and the Dignity of Women -- Voluntary Submission -- Conclusion -- (Re)Inventing Secularism -- The History of a Christian Civilization. A Christian Nation -- Historical Emancipation -- The Motor of Limited Tolerance -- Respecting a Value, Respecting a Principle -- Diversity, Positive Secularism and Tolerance -- Faith, Hope, and Unity -- Legislate, Educate! -- Reaffirmation -- Legitimacy -- Securing Public Order -- Conclusion -- Consequences -- Social Contracts, National Borders and Illiberal Governmentality -- National Frontiers and Social Contracts -- Discursive Displacement and Liberal Faith -- Post-Political Expansion -- Romantic Ideals and Secularist Retaliation -- Bibliography -- Index.
In Unveiling the French Republic, Per-Erik Nilsson engages in a critical analysis of national identity, secularism, and Islam in France. He argues that secular ideology has been used to justify religious intolerance, mask ethnic prejudice, and reify French national identity.