Books & ideas

The ecclesiastic roots of the modern state

Pierre-Bénigne Dufouleur — 2023-07-14T08:30:00Z

Anna Grzymala-Busse, a political scientist, argues that the medieval church played an important role in the foundation of the modern state. Yet this revival of an old argument runs into a number of obstacles.

Gender and Priests

Anthony Favier — 2023-06-08T07:00:00Z

Once a closet for homosexuals, now embroiled in pedophilia scandals, the Catholic Church is trying to restore a veneer of masculinity to its religious figures, thus sacrificing itself to gender politics.

The History of Afterlives

Miri Rubin — 2019-10-17T07:00:00Z

Ambrose of Milan, fourth-century theologian, administrator, bishop and eventually saint Father of the Church, left his mark in the history of the Church and beyond. Patrick Boucheron explores his life and afterlives, in a dialogue between then and now, writing a history to live by.

Ireland's Silences: the Magdalene Laundries

Nathalie Sebbane — 2018-12-24T07:00:00Z

Thanks to the success of Peter Mullan's film The Magdalene Sisters, Magdalene laundries—institutions meant to punish Ireland's “fallen” women—are now part of the country's collective memory. Despite tremendous social advances, survivors still await reparation and an official apology.

An Anti-Gender Europe

Magali Della Sudda — 2018-09-24T07:00:00Z

This panorama of the mobilizations against homosexual marriage in twelve European countries highlights the federation of several conservative movements under the unifying ‘Anti-Gender Crusade' banner.