The Construction of Minority Identities in France and Britain

France and Britain are traditionally perceived as having divergent attitudes to the issue of minority identities. In France the idea that a person can be both a French citizen and have an ethnic or religious identity is unacceptable, while in Britain community cohesion promotes the combining of race or faith with the idea of being British. This volume examines the problems posed by these assumptions and the realities that are forcing them to be revisited. In France the idea that a person can be both a French citizen and have an ethnic or religious identity is unacceptable, while in Britain community cohesion promote the combining of race or faith with the idea of being British. This volume examines the problems posed by these assumptions and the realities that are forcing them to be revisited. Britain and France have divergent attitdues to the issue of minority identities. Whilst the British emphasise multiculturalism, allowing that it is possible to combine race or faith with a British identity, the French view such a combination of religion and nationality as unacceptable. However, recent events have challenged these traditional approaches to minorities. The London bombings of July 2005, and the fact that the perpetrators were British, threw into question the assumption that the elevation of difference could lead to community cohesion, whilst riots in Birmingham in October 2005 between black and Asian communities further highlighted tensions. Similarly, French certainties about their pro-active attitude to the integration of minorities into a national community, unified by common values, were profoundly shaken by rioting in urban areas. In this exceptionally timely collection, leading commentators from France and Britain compare how two European countries, with very distinct national traditions are facing up to the challenges of multiculturalism and issues of identity. Exploring the assumptions underlying minority policies and the constructions of identity, this volume explores how and why they need to be revised Cover......Page 2 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Notes on the Contributors......Page 10 Introduction......Page 13 Part I: Approaches to an Understanding of the Construction of Minority Identities......Page 23 1 Secularism and the Accommodation of Muslim Identities......Page 25 2 The Construction of What?......Page 45 3 Debating Cultural Difference in France......Page 60 4 The French Republic Unveiled......Page 71 Part II: Experiencing the Construction of Minority Identities......Page 89 5 Shifting Sociocultural Identities: Young People of North African Origin in France......Page 91 6 Converging at Last? France, Britain and their Minorities......Page 110 7 Veiled Interventions in Pure Space: Honour, Shame and Embodied Struggles among Muslims in Britain and France......Page 129 8 The Construction of Identity, Integration and Participation of Caribbeans in British Society......Page 151 Conclusion......Page 173 S......Page 179 Z......Page 180 Approaches to an understanding of the construction of minority identities Secularism and the accommodation of Muslims / Tariq Modood and Riva Kastoryano The construction of what? / Michel Wieviorka Debating cultural difference in France / Catherine Wihtol de Wenden The French Republic unveiled / Max Silverman Experiencing the construction of minority identities Shifting sociocultural identities : young people of North African origin in France / Nadia Kiwan Converging at last? : France, Britain and their minorities / Vincent Latour Veiled interventions in pure space : honour, shame and embodied struggles among Muslims in Britain and France / Pnina Werbner The construction of identity, integration and participation of Carribbeans in British society / Harry Goulbourne "In this collection, leading commentators from France and Britain compare how two European countries, with very distinct national traditions, are facing up to the challenges of multiculturalism and issues of identity. Exploring the assumptions underlying minority policies and the constructions of identity, this volume explores how and why they need to be revised."--Jacket