Republican Universalism at the Test of French Multicultural Society

Abstract

Abstract While the trial of modernity and its legacies, the rise of anti-universalistic discourses, and the temptations of identitarian closures are common Western trends, this paper will specifically focus on the French case, as its republican assimilationist model has been very much infused with universalism and endures many tensions facing multicultural society. By focusing on the arguments mobilized by young French adults to solve the tensions between republican universalism and national particularism, as well as envisioning social cohesion, we analyze their narratives and shed light on four “spirits”: Homo Nationalis, embodying a nationalistic passion for the homeland; Homo Civicus, expressing deep commitment to the res publica and the common good; Homo Culturalis, demanding recognition of minority cultures; and Homo Pontifex (the “bridge builder”), encouraging cosmopolitanism and a love of humanity.