On the occasion of Astrid Von Busekist’s (Paris Science Po) research stay at CRÉ, we will hold a symposium on her book La religion au tribunal (Albin Michel, 2023). The activity will be conducted in the presence of the author and respondents Marc-Antoine Dilhac (UdeM),  Victor Muniz-Fraticelli (McGill), Christian Nadeau (UdeM) et Daniel Weinstock (McGill). The event will be hosted by Ryoa Chung (UdeM).

To participate via Zoom, click here.

Book Summary

“Homeschooling, circumcision, religious divorce. Against the common belief that the political and religious could not work together without upsetting the principle of separation, this book demonstrates that the interactions between state law and religious commands are more complex. The State, sensitive to unique situations, can show flexibility and accommodate the belief obligations of individuals. Attentive to the integrity of believers, it can even occasionally cooperate with representatives of religious communities. This book examines three cases where the confrontation between civil and religious is resolved by unique arbitration between public virtues and individual freedoms. Not to harm individual religious freedom or the making of a democratic citizen? To bodily integrity or civic inclusion of minority communities? To religious freedom or democratic equality between women and men? A sometimes thwarted alloy between democracy and liberalism, deliberalism, a doctrine of the right measure, attempts the bet to paint a more flexible, more pragmatic picture than the idea of separation between the common good and the unique aspirations of believers suggests.”

About the Author

“Astrid von Busekist is a Professor of Political Theory at Sciences Po and the director of the journal Raisons Politiques. She has published, among others, at Albin Michel, Portes et murs. Des frontières en démocratie (2016) and Penser la justice. Entretiens avec Michael Walzer, 2020.”