Tariq Ramadan vs. Daniel Cohn-Bendit or Why a European Model of Society Based on Weak Citizenship is Not Such a Good Idea

European Journal of Social Theory, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 465-481, 2009

17 Pages Posted: 8 Mar 2011

See all articles by Liana Giorgi

Liana Giorgi

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: November 1, 2009

Abstract

The boundaries, openness and character of the future European society will crucially depend on the degree and scope of identity politics. Religion, culture and nationality remain strong reference frameworks for individuals in their inter-personal but also political relations, and tend, in practice, to favour weak rather than strong forms of citizenship. Whether this is a viable model for large and diverse democratic societies is an old debate known primarily from the discussions and theory on multiculturalism. How this debate is played out at European level and especially with respect to the role of religion is illustrated with reference to the ideas of Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Tariq Ramadan, two well-known public figures with a strong commitment to Europe and European identity, albeit from rather different perspectives and outlooks. At the substantive or philosophical level, it appears impossible to resolve the fundamental questions underlying the opposition between liberalism and communitarianism as represented by the two men. A middle-range pragmatic approach insofar as political solutions or societal compromises are concerned is scrutinized for its usefulness.

Keywords: European Identity, Religion, Citizenship, Fundamentalism

Suggested Citation

Giorgi, Liana, Tariq Ramadan vs. Daniel Cohn-Bendit or Why a European Model of Society Based on Weak Citizenship is Not Such a Good Idea (November 1, 2009). European Journal of Social Theory, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 465-481, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1781225 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1781225

Liana Giorgi (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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