The Muslim Presence in France and the United States
Its Consequences for Secularism
in French Politics, Culture & Society
Author:
Jocelyne Cesari
Jocelyne Cesari
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Search for other papers by Jocelyne Cesari in
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All too often, the question of Muslim minorities in Europe and America is discussedsolely in socioeconomic terms or with a simplistic focus on the Islamicreligion and its purported incompatibility with democracy. This article focusesinstead on the secularism of Western host societies as a major factor in the integrationof Muslim minorities. It compares French and American secularismand argues that while French-style secularism has contributed to present tensionsbetween French Muslims and the French state, American secularism hasfacilitated the integration of Muslims in the United States—even after 9/11.