The Centre d'analyse stratégique, in partnership with the National Council of cities have organized a Kiosk: From "Denial of Cultures" the challenge of diversity , Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
The inclusion of ethnic and cultural public action, a comparative approach
The French republican context is very attentive to the principle of equality and neutrality in relation to any criterion of the origin, or religion. This is, according to current terminology, a model of "color-blind." Other countries insist instead on an approach "color-conscious" in their view, this approach would allow one hand to fight effectively against discrimination, and secondly to promote "living together" through the recognition of cultural specificities.
In Denial of crops, published in September 2010, the sociologist Hugues Lagrange proposes to take into account the criteria in the ethno-cultural study of social problems and policies in areas considered "sensitive". Considering that many phenomena could be avoided (school failure, violence, seclusion of women, political abstention) without what he calls "blind Republican" differences, he advocated the establishment with clearly culturally appropriate - or alleged - some immigrants and their descendants, including initiatives for empowering women.
In France, this issue is hotly contested. For some, the focus on the origin of individuals is likely to mask the problems of social inequality. The risk is that of assigning identities to non-selected, or to help promote a model of "communitarian". For others, this consideration is rather a condition for successful integration and success in the fight against discrimination.
Should we - and if so, in what capacity - providing a place for ethnic or cultural in public action, especially in urban policy? What compromises struck between the application of universal rules and taking into account the differences?
For more information:
Analysis Centre stratégiue
Sylvain Lemoine
Head of the Social Affairs Department
Tel. : +33 (0) 1 42 75 60 40
sylvain.lemoine@strategie.gouv.fr
Press Contact:
Centre d'analyse stratégique
Jean-Michel Roullé
Head of Communications
Tel. : +33 (0) 1 42 75 61 37
jean-michel.roulle@strategie.gouv.fr
Les ressources
- Kiosque - Du "déni des cultures" au défi de la diversité (27/04/2011)