Abstract
This chapter explains how colonialism, immigration, and terrorism have shaped the present discourse on state and religion in France. It is argued that in recent years, in the name of the Republic, a new trinity has emerged: indivisibilité, sécurité, and laïcité. While still paying homage to the traditional trinity of liberté, égalité, fraternité, this historical trinity has been downgraded in importance. Thus, it is argued that in the French society and politics we discern first and second order principles. The first order principles are the traditional liberté, égalité, fraternité. The second order principles are indivisibilité, sécurité, and laïcité. The second order principles are superimposed on the traditional motto, and clear tensions have emerged between the two sets of principles. The requirement today is clear: People should be French and leave their cultural identities preferably behind or, at the very least, at home. The citizen does not have an identity that is independent of the state. Everyone is welcome provided that they embrace French national Republicanism.
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Notes
- 1.
Frantz Omar Fanon (1925–1961) was an important writer in black Atlantic theory in an age of anti-colonial liberation struggle. See Drabinski (2019).
- 2.
For further discussion on colonialism, representation and self-representation and the politicization of deconstruction, Chakravorty and Harasym (1990).
- 3.
For discussion on the construction of racial hierarchies, the reception of European immigrants as compared to the reception of Algerians, and the role of gender in this process, see Camiscioli (2009).
- 4.
Discussion with LSE Chair and co-founder of the Forum for European Philosophy, Professor Catherine Audard, London (June 6, 2019).
- 5.
Professor in Political Philosophy, University Paris 1.
- 6.
Prof. Magali Bessone’s personal communication (February 10, 2021).
- 7.
Professor of Social Geography, Universite d’Angers.
- 8.
Discussion with Prof. Christian Pihet, Paris (July 14, 2019).
- 9.
Discussion with Professor Patrick Weil, Paris (July 12, 2019).
- 10.
Discussion with Vice President Yonathan Arfi, Paris (July 12, 2019).
- 11.
Discussion with Professor Patrick Weil, Paris (July 12, 2019).
- 12.
For discussion on how the French Civic Integration Program leads to discrimination and exploitation of immigrants, see Onasch (2020).
- 13.
Discussion with Prof. Magali Bessone, Paris (July 12, 2019).
- 14.
Professor at the Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) and director of the Middle East and Mediterranean Chair at PSL, based at Ecole Normale Supérieure.
- 15.
For critique of Kepel, see Hunter-Henin (2020).
- 16.
- 17.
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Cohen-Almagor, R. (2022). The Shaping of the Republic: The Influence of Colonialism, Immigration and Terrorism. In: The Republic, Secularism and Security. SpringerBriefs in Political Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94669-2_3
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