Veil

by Christian Joppke

Overview

The Islamic headscarf has become the subject of heated legal and political debate. France and Germany have legislated against it, and even the UK, long a champion of multiculturalism, has recently restricted the veil proper. Ever since home-grown Islamic terrorism struck Europe, these debates have become even more prominent, impassioned and wide-ranging, with vital global importance.

In this concise and beautifully written introduction to the politics of the veil in modern societies, Christian Joppke examines why a piece of clothing could have led to such controversy. He dissects the multiple meanings of the Islamic headscarf, and explores its links with the global rise of Islam, Muslim integration, and the retreat from multiculturalism. He argues that the headscarf functions as a mirror of identity, but one in which national and liberal identities overlap, exposing the paradox that while it may be an affront to liberal values, its suppression is equally illiberal.

Veil: Mirror of Identity will illuminate, challenge and provoke readers, and will make compelling reading for scholars, students and general readers alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745643526
Publisher:	Polity Press
Publication date:	03/02/2009
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Christian Joppke is Professor of Political Science at the American University of Paris.

Table of Contents

Preface viii

1 The Islamic Headscarf in Western Europe 1

2 The Pupil’s Headscarf in Republican France 27

3 The Teacher’s Headscarf in Christian–Occidental Germany 53

4 The Extreme Headscarf in Multicultural Britain 81

5 Liberalism and Muslim Integration 107

Notes 127

Bibliography 141

Index 151

Editorial Reviews

"An eye-opener. It is essentially about European liberalism,'othering' and Muslim integration, and offers some very valuableinsights into how French, British and German policymakers andcourts have dealt with their respective 'headscarf affairs'."
Times Higher Education

"The strength of this book lies in the comparison of threestates' responses to the headscarf issue, providing a thoroughaccount for a reader new to this subject."
Sociology

"Joppke's Veil retrieves a topic subjected toclichéd overkill for genuine scholarly analysis. It iserudite, readable and unrivalled, a no-punches-pulled critique ofthe relationship between Islam, gender and liberalism. Informative,thought-provoking and powerful, it reaches new heights and is amust-read for the informed, or bemused, about Islam in theWest."
Paul Statham, University of Bristol

"All of the trademark features of Joppke's style are in evidencehere: a talent for linking empirical and normative questions in asophisticated yet clear way; an ability to synthesize a wide rangeof literature and sharply formulate the key issues; and awillingness to challenge and indeed provoke his readers."
Rogers Brubaker, University of California

"Veil is a highly original and systematic analysis of oneof the major problems which Western, especially European, societiesare confronting. It is an outstanding contribution, and should beof great interest to sociologists, political scientists andhistorians."
S. N. Eisenstadt, Van Leer Jerusalem Institute

"One of the most difficult issues for a liberal state is toconsider the conflict between religious freedom and liberal values.Written with pace, authority and wit, Christian Joppke provides thereader with a deeper understanding of western Europe’sstruggle with manifestations of religious identity."
Kamal Ahmed, Equality and Human RightsCommission

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