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The Hijab Controversy and Integration of Muslims Immigrants

  • Korean Review of French History
  • Abbr : KRFH
  • 2018, (38), pp.69~95
  • DOI : 10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.69
  • Publisher : KOREAN SOCIETY FOR FRENCH HISTORY
  • Research Area : Humanities > History
  • Received : January 22, 2018
  • Accepted : February 2, 2018
  • Published : February 28, 2018

Dahn Park 1

1서강대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to show how the controversy surrounding the hijab, an item of clothing traditionally worn by Muslim women, is closely connected with colonialism and republicanism in today France. This paper is primarily aimed at clarifying its relationship with colonialism, as the existing debate mainly focuses on the principle of the French republic, i.e., its relevance to the current ‘laïcité’ problem in the country. The second purpose of this paper is to present a critical point of view for rethinking the existing concept of republican laïcité. In other words, this paper introduces the new concept of “the open laïcité”, namely liberal interpretations of laïcité, and also intends to examine its applicability. Ultimately, this paper argues that the hijab controversy should not be confined to “the republican laîcité”, but should be expanded to include a colonial perspective as well as an open discussion of laïcité in France. It also examines how historical views regarding the hijab during the colonial period of Algeria have been transferred to the contemporary hijab controversy.

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