Books & ideas

The Universal and the Particular

Maud S. Mandel — 2017-10-30T08:00:00Z

Intellectual historian Maurice Samuels offers a timely corrective to simplistic renderings of French universalism showing that, over the years, it has been far more nuanced and far less anti-particularistic than usually argued. However, studying Jews as the paradigmatic minority, he tends to forget the growing focus on Muslims in contemporary conversations.

Race and Republicanism

Dominique Schnapper — 2015-02-23T06:30:00Z

Though race is socially constructed, it nonetheless really exists: consequently, Magali Bessone argues, the concept of race must be taken into consideration when fighting racism. But what positive content can be given to the “critical republicanism” she advocates?

Envisaging the Future of Republicanism in France

Sophie Guérard de Latour — 2012-05-17T08:22:02Z

To Thierry Ménissier, France's republicanism is not a thing of the past. In fact, the republican regime is still the best guarantee of liberty in France, but only if it is overhauled so that it takes on board the important role of political participation. Republicanism's continuing relevance requires that it get back in touch with the classical republican tradition.

Republican Reflections on the 15-M Movement

Philip Pettit — 2011-09-20T05:57:38Z

In its criticism of the democratic deficit in Spain, has the 15M movement (initiated 15 May 2011 in Spain) challenged Philip Pettit's theory of republicanism which gave its intellectual authority to Zapatero's government? The philosopher draws his own conclusions on the movement and the crisis it stems from.