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Articles published in Eurozine
The dialectic of secularization
The opposition between "multiculturalism" and "Enlightenment fundamentalism" is misconceived, argues Jürgen Habermas. "The universalist claim of the political Enlightenment does not contradict the particularist sensibilities of a correctly understood multiculturalism." [Italian version added] [more]
Democracy and philosophy
Moral insight "is a matter of imagining a better future, and observing the results of attempts to bring that future into existence". In "Kritika&Kontext", Richard Rorty (1931-2007) outlines the anti-foundationalist premise of his philosophy. [Turkish version added] [more]
On Reason
Reason's greatest rival is not religion, but revolution, writes Iranian philosopher Abdolkarim Soroush. "The first resource that is squandered in a revolution is rationality and the last thing that returns is rationality. If it ever returns." [Lithuanian version added] [more]
The question of tolerance in Islamic societies
Today's Muslim societies must consider afresh the question of tolerance, and ask why they find themselves mired in indecision and resentment, says Abdesselam Cheddadi. [more]
Fanaticism: A brief history of the concept
The label "fanaticism" is increasingly attached to the perceived threat posed by religious fundamentalism. But rarely is the history of the term and the variety of its uses examined. [more]
Ideas whose time has come
A conversation with Iranian philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo
"For me as an Iranian philosopher, thinking differently is a form of going beyond the challenges of my daily life in Iran. It's an opening up to the world which goes hand in hand with the act of being free." [more]
The role of religion in establishing social cohesion
Nostalgic references to a religious past will not help solve the question of a "European soul". Yes, this past is both glorious and painful, but it no longer exists, writes Daničle Hervieu-Léger. Instead, the weakening of the foundations of religion could prove to be a good starting point for a more specific reconsideration of European religious heritage. [more]
The Islamist identity
Islam, European public space, and civility
It is not distance from, but proximity to modern life that triggers a return to religious identity among migrant Muslims in Europe, says Nilüfer Göle. The religious self for individual Muslims is being shifted from the private to the public realm. [more]
Islamic evangelism
Islam in Europe
It is a mistake to think that religious and political radicalism among European Muslims is a mere import from the cultures and conflicts of the Middle East. It is above all a consequence of the globalization and Westernization of Islam, writes Olivier Roy. [more]
Post-secularism: A return to the public sphere
During secularization, says Klaus Eder, religion did not disappear completely. It only became invisible to the public sphere. In Europe, this was a result of the two dominant Christian religions -- Protestantism and Catholicism -- which drove other religious beliefs into the private sphere. He terms the recent return of religion to the public sphere post-secularism. [more]
European secularization: A special route to post-secular society?
A theoretical note
Post-secular society is the contradictory and uncontrollable counterpart of the secular state. Both are accelerated and regulated by a third actor: a public sphere formed by the mass media. [more]
Beyond the clash of intolerances
Today, we are not experiencing a clash of civilizations, but a clash of intolerances. "We must encourage opposing forces to adhere to values of moderation, tolerance, and non-violence", says the Iranian philosopher. [more]
Beliefs in the US. Between new fears and old responses
On the differing roles of religion in the public sphere in the US and Europe: "Have you ever heard the German chancellor say 'God bless Germany'?" Reset editor-in-chief Giancarlo Bosetti talks to Seyla Benhabib. [more]
Putting all of Europe in one room
The creator of Deliberative Polling looks at the possibilities for bringing Europeans from all 25 member states together, informing them on issues of public importance, and encouraging them to discuss and question these issues. [more]
Wow! There are other models
Bringing public service television principles to Italy
A look at examples of public service television abroad that can serve as models for the way Italian television should be -- informative, motivating, and unbiased. [more]
The legislation of 1905
Should France's laws from 1905 regulating laïcité be reformed after a century of changes in the religious composition of French society? [more]
Auto-Emancipation and anti-Semitism
Homage to Bernard Lazare
Does emancipation create freedom and equality? Mitchell Cohen takes a closer look at the process of emancipation and the Jewish experience. [more]
A genuinely Italian fraud
Marco Onado recapitulates the Parmalat-scandal and explains what is so uniquely Italian about it. [more]
Migrants' nostalgia - alleviated through hospitality
Nuruddin Farah on the notion of "diaspora", migration, and life in different parts of the world. [more]
The world as a problem and USA as its solution?
Behind the recent conflict between America and Europe lies a radical shift in policy. But this shift has not been made in Germany, in France or in any of the other countries in "old Europe", writes Göran Rosenberg. What has happened, took place in the White House. [more]
How the empire generates friends and enemies
Göran Therborn on the return of the cold war and the enigma of religous fundamentalism. [more]
"Global is Not Always Cosmopolite"
An Interview with Saskia Sassen, by Nina Fürstenberg.
Saskia Sassen on the distinctions between television, internet and the different social relationships they involve. [more]
Leggere on line, che fatica
What will happen to reading in the face of electronic technology, where the supply of texts is growing even faster than it did as a result of the printing press? And what about the problem of copyright? [more]
Sotto osservazione i regimi dell'est europeo
I recenti sviluppi nell'Europa Orientale e nell'ex Unione Sovietica suscitano forti preoccupazioni sul sistema maggioritario e i diritti individuali. John Elster elabora perchč. [more]
Ecco il mondo delle reti
Intervista a Manuel Castells di Giancarlo Bosetti
Manuel Castells risponde alle domande riguardanti la sua opera L’etŕ dell’informazione: economia, societŕ, cultura. L'autore parla inoltre del ruolo peculiare della criminalitŕ nella societŕ, della identitŕ europea a suo parere inesistente e di poesia. [more]