It's All About Identity, Stupid

Author: José Casanova

December 1, 2004

In the article "It's All About Identity, Stupid" José Casanova examines how religion and secularism affected political debates in Europe in the early 2000s. In particular, Casanova focuses on four particular case studies: the integration of Poland, the exclusion of Turkey, public religious practice in Europe, and the writing of a European constitution. Casanova notes that all four of these case studies challenge the pan-European trend of increased secularization, at least in terms of public practice of religion. In particular, Casanova emphasizes how the writing of a constitution will require Europe to reflect upon its history and decide what the role of religion was in the formation of Europe—and what the rights of religions should be. The article was published in the Index of Censorship.

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