*Apologies for cross-posting*
Reflections on Europe's Secularism Conceptions of Secularism and the secular states they underpin are coming under strain even in Europe where not long ago they were believed to be firmly entrenched and secure. It is true that substantive secularization of European societies has also brought in its wake extensive secularization of European states. Regardless of their religious affiliation, citizens have a large basket of civil and political rights unheard of in religion-centred states, past or present. But still, two problems remain. First, migration from former colonies and an intensified globalisation has thrown together on western public spaces pre-Christian faiths, Christianity and Islam The cumulative result is unprecedented religious diversity, the weakening of public monopoly of single religions, and the generation of mutual suspicion, distrust, hostility and conflict. This is evident in Germany and Britain but was dramatically highlighted by the headscarf issue in France and the murder of film-maker Theo Van Gogh in the Netherlands shortly after the release of his controversial film about Islamic culture. Second, despite substantial secularization, the formal establishment of the dominant religion does little to bolster better inter-community relations or reduce religious discrimination in several European states. Islamophobia is not only a result of 9/11 and its aftermath but a product of the way certain institutional patterns emerged in Europe some 400 years ago and have been maintained in some form till today. Professor Rajeev Bhargava is currently Senior Fellow and Director, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, India. He has previously been a Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and was Head of Department of Political Science at the University of Delhi. His research areas include religious diversity, secularism and democracy. Some of his recent articles include 'States, religious diversity, and the crisis of secularism' and 'The Indian Experience'. Publications include; 'What is Political Theory and Why do we need it?' (OUP, Delhi, 2010) and 'The Promise of India's Secular Democracy' (OUP, Delhi, 2010). He is currently working on a book based around Secularism. He has contributed to several international books and journals including the Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy and the Oxford Handbook of Political Theory. When: Wednesday 27 April, 2011 Time: 2pm - 4pm Where: The Senate Room, 1st Floor of Lobby Q, Quadrangle Building, University of Sydney RSVP: [email protected] Zoe Morrison | Project Officer Sydney Democracy Initiative THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Room S503, The Quadrangle [A14] The University of Sydney NSW | 2006 | Australia T +61 (0) 2 9351 3324 | M +61 432 755 459 E [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> W www.sydney.edu.au/arts/sdi
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