Religion, Legal Pluralism, and Human Rights: European and Transatlantic Perspectives

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 to Thursday, May 31st, 2012
Columbia Global Center, Paris
Reid Hall, 4, rue de Chevreuse

What is the proper place and role of religion in a constitutional democracy or international human rights regime? Does the presence of religious symbols and rituals in public and official spaces foster exclusion or inclusion of those who differ?  Do demands for jurisdiction by religious authorities over personal law (marriage, divorce, sexual morals, rituals, etc.) expand or undermine the political equality and human rights of citizens?

This workshop steps back to examine the European and transatlantic past and present with interdisciplinary and geographically diverse scholars and students to take up the issues from the perspective of constitutional, political, and legal theory.

Organized by Jean Cohen, Yasmine Ergas, and Samuel Moyn. Participants include John Bowen, Christian Joppke, Tariq Modood, Maleiha Malik, Cecile Laborde, Rajeev Bhargava, Denis Lacorne, Riva Kastoryano, Genevieve Fraisse, Patrick Weil, Alicia Cebada Romero, Aurelia Bardon, and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti.