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Constitutional Secularism in an Age of Religious Revival

Online ISBN:
9780191748264
Print ISBN:
9780199660384
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Constitutional Secularism in an Age of Religious Revival

Susanna Mancini (ed.),
Susanna Mancini
(ed.)

Professor of Comparative Public Law

Professor of Comparative Public Law, University of Bologna Law
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Michel Rosenfeld (ed.)
Michel Rosenfeld
(ed.)

Professor of Human Rights and Director, Program on Global and Comparative Constitutional Theory

Professor of Human Rights and Director, Program on Global and Comparative Constitutional Theory, Yeshiva University
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Published online:
16 April 2014
Published in print:
30 January 2014
Online ISBN:
9780191748264
Print ISBN:
9780199660384
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

The global movement of culture and religion has brought about a serious challenge to traditional constitutional secularism. This challenge comes in the form of a political and institutional struggle against secular constitutionalism, and a two pronged assault on the very legitimacy and viability of the concept. On the one hand, constitutional secularism has been attacked as inherently hostile rather than neutral toward religion; and, on the other hand, constitutional secularism has been criticized as inevitably favouring one religion (or set of religions) over others. Chapters here provide accounts of, and explanations for, present predicaments; critiques of contemporary institutional, political and cultural arrangements, justifications and practices; and suggestions with a view to overcoming or circumventing several of the seemingly intractable or insurmountable current controversies and deadlocks. The book is separated in to five parts. Part I provides theoretical perspectives on the present day conflicts between secularism and religion. Part II focuses on the relationship between religion, secularism, and the public sphere. Part III examines the nexus between religion, secularism, and women's equality. Part IV concentrates on religious perspectives on constraints on, and accommodations of, religion within the precincts of the liberal state. Finally, Part V zeroes in on conflicts between religion and secularism in specific contexts, namely education and freedom of speech.

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