Comments on: Defence of the Republic http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/defence-of-the-republic/ Tim King on French politics Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:48:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Autolycus http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/defence-of-the-republic/#comment-34503 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:50:45 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/defence-of-the-republic/#comment-34503 Plus there may, of course, be concerns about a smuggling-in of the conservative "bright idea" across the Western world of sub-contracting public and social services to voluntary (for which read religious) organisations: this would have a particular resonance in the French situation, but resistance to the idea (in the Anglosphere no less than in France) is hardly "old-fashioned". There are of course rigidities in the interpretation of the idea of community cohesion in France, of a kind we got over 20 years or more ago in the UK (but are still revisiting): you don't make people equal merely by saying they are and by refusing to look at how life is actually experienced by inconveniently real people. That's perhaps less to do with "republican values" than énarque arrogance and a preference for the theoretical over the empirical: but whether Sarkozy's genuinely committed to consistent action to reinterpret values in that or any other context, or, as his critics say, just capriciously showboating, Berlusconi-style, is yet to be seen. Why no link, by the way? It's here: http://www.marianne2.fr/L-Appel-republicain-de-Marianne_a83903.html. Plus there may, of course, be concerns about a smuggling-in of the conservative “bright idea” across the Western world of sub-contracting public and social services to voluntary (for which read religious) organisations: this would have a particular resonance in the French situation, but resistance to the idea (in the Anglosphere no less than in France) is hardly “old-fashioned”.

There are of course rigidities in the interpretation of the idea of community cohesion in France, of a kind we got over 20 years or more ago in the UK (but are still revisiting): you don’t make people equal merely by saying they are and by refusing to look at how life is actually experienced by inconveniently real people. That’s perhaps less to do with “republican values” than énarque arrogance and a preference for the theoretical over the empirical: but whether Sarkozy’s genuinely committed to consistent action to reinterpret values in that or any other context, or, as his critics say, just capriciously showboating, Berlusconi-style, is yet to be seen.

Why no link, by the way? It’s here: http://www.marianne2.fr/L-Appel-republicain-de-Marianne_a83903.html.

]]> by: ange.scalpel http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/defence-of-the-republic/#comment-34468 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:13:35 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/defence-of-the-republic/#comment-34468 I find this comment misleading. The values of the French Republic may be an illusion or a myth, a relic of a bygone age, but the fact is that Mr Sarkozy behaves as if He Alone could impose to his country any sort of decision about religion or the constitution without consulting the citizens. this is a form of Republican authoritarianism , of the sort practiced by Robespierre. If , as you seem to suggest, Our Sovereign were really a liberal, he would not care about the State giving indications about how to preserve memory or about how to practice the "devoir de mémoire". He would just let religious groups do freely what they want. I a m curious about what he will do about scientology. Blaise Pascal said that tyranny is "the desire to legislate out of his sphere". Pr Sarkozy is just tyrannistic in trying to legislate over what he is not allowed to legislate about. A REpublican reflex among his compatriots is not necessarily the proof of their adherence to old fashioned values of an Indivisible Republic ( which may have existed only at the time of Valmy! , but only to a simple fear that the basic liberties of democracy are violated. France is a democracy, but we have to be watchful. I find this comment misleading. The values of the French Republic may be an illusion or a myth, a relic of a bygone age, but the fact is that Mr Sarkozy behaves as if He Alone could impose to his country any sort of decision about religion or the constitution without consulting the citizens. this is a form of Republican authoritarianism , of the sort practiced by Robespierre. If , as you seem to suggest, Our Sovereign were really a liberal, he would not care about the State giving indications about how to preserve memory or about how to practice the “devoir de mémoire”. He would just let religious groups do freely what they want. I a m curious about what he will do about scientology. Blaise Pascal said that tyranny is “the desire to legislate out of his sphere”. Pr Sarkozy is just tyrannistic in trying to legislate over what he is not allowed to legislate about. A REpublican reflex among his compatriots is not necessarily the proof of their adherence to old fashioned values of an Indivisible Republic ( which may have existed only at the time of Valmy! , but only to a simple fear that the basic liberties of democracy are violated. France is a democracy, but we have to be watchful.

]]>