The Influence of Laïcité on the Rise of Radical Islam in France

Abstract

2015 was particularly difficult and tragic in the history of France. The brutal terrorist attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was followed by other attacks, was especially dramatic. One of the latest terrorist attacks happened near the school when a student beheaded a teacher on the grounds of offending religious sentiments. Over the past twenty years, France has seen a sharp rise in radical Islam and the number of terrorist attacks committed by Muslims living inside the country. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2020 report, France ranks first among the EU member states in terms of Islamic terrorism (The Global Terrorism Index, 2020). After these brutal and frequent attacks, France faced the main question: why is it the number one target for Islamist terrorists in Europe, and how should it respond to this problem?

The strengthening of radical Islam can be explained by various reasons. However, in the case of France, the problem of integration is often discussed, which may be caused by the strict model of French secularism, laïcité. Interestingly, this model is perceived completely differently by the proponents and opponents of the laïcité. For France, it is the most important achievement of the republic, which at the same time contributes to the integration process, although according to its opponents, this model, on the contrary, hinders the process of integration of the Muslim population. The result is an identity crisis and a sense of disillusionment, which plays a major role in the radicalization process.

Based on the existing security problem, it is necessary to analyze this model and determine its impact on the rise of radical Islam. Along with this, determine how compatible or incompatible the republican and Islamic values are.