A French Paradox?: Islam and Laïcité

This article traces the history of the relationship between religion and state in French society since the French Revolution. I analyze the evolution of laïcité and the ways in which it has interacted with Islam both in the French colonial empire and in contemporary metropolitan France. It seeks to clarify the nuances of history, which are too often oversimplified for political gain by different political groups today. The author would like to thank Dominique Avon, Luc Chantre, Alain Gresh, and Omero Marongiu-Perria for corrections and suggestions to an earlier draft of this article.