Terrorism: Rooted in the French Revolution Terrorism is incredibly prevalent within today’s society in the forms of social media, news outlets, and word of mouth. It is a danger that has grown exponentially over the past few years. However, people are unaware of where the foundations of modern terrorism lie. The belief is that the French Revolution was the catalyst that began modern terrorism and it is reason France is incredibly susceptible to terror attacks in the present. The multitude of terror attacks on France’s soil can be linked back to the history of words related to terrorism, the social effects of the Reign of Terror, Laïcité, the double edged sword of citizenship, the stigmatization of nonconforming French minorities, and modern
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Secularism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the belief that religion should not play a role in government, education, or other public parts of society" ("Secularism"). In France, one of the most widely known forms of secularism is known as Laïcité. Laïcité is a core ideal found in the French constitution that has generated laws that does not condone religiosity which has sparked a deep hatred of France in extremists. Aversion of secularism can be found in both Islamic and Jewish communities within France. Carla Power describes how the secularism affects French Muslims: "France’s cherished codes of secularism clash with the public nature of the practice of Islam" while Pierre Birnbaum, in the book Jewish Destinies: Citizenship, State, and Community in Modern France, expresses similar concern about French Jews: "Secularism, which is often antireligious, is perceived by Jews today as an impediment to the expression of their identity" (Power Par. 3; Birnbaum 205). Secularism does not only limit the presence of religion in public, but it also covertly detracts from the culture of minorities as evidenced by Burke as he explains the rationale of Islamic extremists. "…the role France has historically assumed as standard bearer of western secular liberalism has also put the nation in the spotlight… France is seen as an atheist power which is defending western ideals… …show more content…
In her book, Regulating Aversion: Tolerance in the Age of Identity and Empire, author Wendy Brown describes the meaning of French citizenship. She says, "citizenship in republican France was not a formal category extended to an individual with rights, but, rather, involved membership in the republic, identification with the state, and participation in French national culture…" (Brown 53). French citizenship’s detailed definition which includes "participation in French national culture" reveals an element of the double edged sword mentioned previously. This social aspect creates issues that generates disastrous results for minorities that are "not participating" in French culture- also known as not conforming to French social and/or political standards. This is evidenced by a quote from John Bowen, author of Why the French Don 't like Headscarves: Islam, the State, and Public Space, that states: "The candidate [Individual applying for citizenship] must show ‘good morals’ but they can also be rejected on the grounds of ‘insufficient assimilation’, whether in their dress, their language, their travel outside of the country, or the positions they have taken... " (Bowen 196). The desire for conformity has
Secularism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the belief that religion should not play a role in government, education, or other public parts of society" ("Secularism"). In France, one of the most widely known forms of secularism is known as Laïcité. Laïcité is a core ideal found in the French constitution that has generated laws that does not condone religiosity which has sparked a deep hatred of France in extremists. Aversion of secularism can be found in both Islamic and Jewish communities within France. Carla Power describes how the secularism affects French Muslims: "France’s cherished codes of secularism clash with the public nature of the practice of Islam" while Pierre Birnbaum, in the book Jewish Destinies: Citizenship, State, and Community in Modern France, expresses similar concern about French Jews: "Secularism, which is often antireligious, is perceived by Jews today as an impediment to the expression of their identity" (Power Par. 3; Birnbaum 205). Secularism does not only limit the presence of religion in public, but it also covertly detracts from the culture of minorities as evidenced by Burke as he explains the rationale of Islamic extremists. "…the role France has historically assumed as standard bearer of western secular liberalism has also put the nation in the spotlight… France is seen as an atheist power which is defending western ideals… …show more content…
In her book, Regulating Aversion: Tolerance in the Age of Identity and Empire, author Wendy Brown describes the meaning of French citizenship. She says, "citizenship in republican France was not a formal category extended to an individual with rights, but, rather, involved membership in the republic, identification with the state, and participation in French national culture…" (Brown 53). French citizenship’s detailed definition which includes "participation in French national culture" reveals an element of the double edged sword mentioned previously. This social aspect creates issues that generates disastrous results for minorities that are "not participating" in French culture- also known as not conforming to French social and/or political standards. This is evidenced by a quote from John Bowen, author of Why the French Don 't like Headscarves: Islam, the State, and Public Space, that states: "The candidate [Individual applying for citizenship] must show ‘good morals’ but they can also be rejected on the grounds of ‘insufficient assimilation’, whether in their dress, their language, their travel outside of the country, or the positions they have taken... " (Bowen 196). The desire for conformity has