Cécile Laborde
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199550210
- eISBN:
- 9780191720857
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199550210.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union, Political Theory
This book conducts the first comprehensive philosophical analysis of the hijab controversy in France, this book also conducts a dialogue between contemporary Anglo-American and French ...
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This book conducts the first comprehensive philosophical analysis of the hijab controversy in France, this book also conducts a dialogue between contemporary Anglo-American and French political theory and defends a progressive republican solution to so-called multicultural conflicts in contemporary societies. It critically assesses the official republican philosophy of laïcité which purported to justify the 2004 ban on religious signs in schools. Laïcité is shown to encompass a comprehensive theory of republican citizenship, centered on three ideals: equality (secular neutrality of the public sphere), liberty (individual autonomy and emancipation), and fraternity (civic loyalty to the community of citizens). Challenging official interpretations of laïcité, the book then puts forward a critical republicanism which does not support the hijab ban, yet upholds a revised interpretation of three central republican commitments: secularism, non-domination and civic solidarity. Thus, it articulates a version of secularism which squarely addresses the problem of status quo bias—the fact that Western societies are historically not neutral towards all religions. It also defends a vision of female emancipation which rejects the coercive paternalism inherent in the regulation of religious dress, yet does not leave individuals unaided in the face of religious and secular, patriarchal and ethnocentric domination. Finally, the book outlines a theory of immigrant integration which places the burden of civic integration on basic socio-economic and political institutions, rather than on citizens themselves. This book examines the management of religious and cultural pluralism, centred on the pursuit of the progressive ideal of non-domination in existing, non-ideal societies.
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This book conducts the first comprehensive philosophical analysis of the hijab controversy in France, this book also conducts a dialogue between contemporary Anglo-American and French political theory and defends a progressive republican solution to so-called multicultural conflicts in contemporary societies. It critically assesses the official republican philosophy of laïcité which purported to justify the 2004 ban on religious signs in schools. Laïcité is shown to encompass a comprehensive theory of republican citizenship, centered on three ideals: equality (secular neutrality of the public sphere), liberty (individual autonomy and emancipation), and fraternity (civic loyalty to the community of citizens). Challenging official interpretations of laïcité, the book then puts forward a critical republicanism which does not support the hijab ban, yet upholds a revised interpretation of three central republican commitments: secularism, non-domination and civic solidarity. Thus, it articulates a version of secularism which squarely addresses the problem of status quo bias—the fact that Western societies are historically not neutral towards all religions. It also defends a vision of female emancipation which rejects the coercive paternalism inherent in the regulation of religious dress, yet does not leave individuals unaided in the face of religious and secular, patriarchal and ethnocentric domination. Finally, the book outlines a theory of immigrant integration which places the burden of civic integration on basic socio-economic and political institutions, rather than on citizens themselves. This book examines the management of religious and cultural pluralism, centred on the pursuit of the progressive ideal of non-domination in existing, non-ideal societies.
Justine Lacroix, Kalypso Nicolaïdis (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199594627
- eISBN:
- 9780191595738
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199594627.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union, Political Theory
While the European Union looms large in contemporary political science, intellectual debates across Europe on the normative foundations for integration have received less attention. This ...
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While the European Union looms large in contemporary political science, intellectual debates across Europe on the normative foundations for integration have received less attention. This book focuses in on the visions and interpretations of European integration proposed since the early 1990s by “public intellectuals”, i.e. political philosophers, scholars, editors or writers whose opinions contribute to framing public attitudes. How is the European Union framed in national intellectual debates? How is the evolving European polity conceived? Do national debates cross‐pollinate, or are they discrete entities each speaking their own language? In answer to these questions, the book develops a comparison between intellectual narratives of European integration across twelve nation‐states — including founding and newer EU members as well as non‐member states — and frames this with chapters reflecting on the echoes and discords across borders. This book thus takes on the debate on unity versus plurality that has long plagued Europe; it ultimately suggests that narrative diversity — both within each country and across borders — is not just an asset but a necessity in a Europe built by the processes of “contestatory democracy” and collective legitimation. At a time when Europe is struggling to define not only its geographical borders but also new cultural, religious and social identities, this book argues that normative homogeneity is by no means a prerequisite for union. Rather, the intellectual “polyphony” of narratives demonstrated by this book should be celebrated and cultivated as a foundation for a new model of European democracy.
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While the European Union looms large in contemporary political science, intellectual debates across Europe on the normative foundations for integration have received less attention. This book focuses in on the visions and interpretations of European integration proposed since the early 1990s by “public intellectuals”, i.e. political philosophers, scholars, editors or writers whose opinions contribute to framing public attitudes. How is the European Union framed in national intellectual debates? How is the evolving European polity conceived? Do national debates cross‐pollinate, or are they discrete entities each speaking their own language? In answer to these questions, the book develops a comparison between intellectual narratives of European integration across twelve nation‐states — including founding and newer EU members as well as non‐member states — and frames this with chapters reflecting on the echoes and discords across borders. This book thus takes on the debate on unity versus plurality that has long plagued Europe; it ultimately suggests that narrative diversity — both within each country and across borders — is not just an asset but a necessity in a Europe built by the processes of “contestatory democracy” and collective legitimation. At a time when Europe is struggling to define not only its geographical borders but also new cultural, religious and social identities, this book argues that normative homogeneity is by no means a prerequisite for union. Rather, the intellectual “polyphony” of narratives demonstrated by this book should be celebrated and cultivated as a foundation for a new model of European democracy.
Jürgen Neyer
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199641246
- eISBN:
- 9780191745591
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199641246.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union, Political Theory
This book submits a political theory of supranational integration that is established on the individual right to justification. This right is integrated in a procedural theory of justice ...
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This book submits a political theory of supranational integration that is established on the individual right to justification. This right is integrated in a procedural theory of justice that builds on the work of Rainer Forst. It is a theory that is both normatively sound and empirically applicable to the EU. This theory takes individual liberty as its normative backbone and understands governance arrangements as instruments for fostering this value. Its conceptual heart is the individual right to justification, that is, the right of all of us to receive good reasons for any limitations that are imposed on our freedom by political institutions and political actions. National and supranational political institutions are legitimate to the extent that they promote the right to justification. The EU is understood to be an entity structurally similar to other governance bodies. Just like any other governance arrangement, it must meet the standard of contributing to justificatory practices between power holders and citizens and can be assessed according to the questions of whether and to what extent it complies with this condition.
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This book submits a political theory of supranational integration that is established on the individual right to justification. This right is integrated in a procedural theory of justice that builds on the work of Rainer Forst. It is a theory that is both normatively sound and empirically applicable to the EU. This theory takes individual liberty as its normative backbone and understands governance arrangements as instruments for fostering this value. Its conceptual heart is the individual right to justification, that is, the right of all of us to receive good reasons for any limitations that are imposed on our freedom by political institutions and political actions. National and supranational political institutions are legitimate to the extent that they promote the right to justification. The EU is understood to be an entity structurally similar to other governance bodies. Just like any other governance arrangement, it must meet the standard of contributing to justificatory practices between power holders and citizens and can be assessed according to the questions of whether and to what extent it complies with this condition.
