Mapping the Legal Boundaries of Belonging: Religion and Multiculturalism from Israel to Canada(Religion and Global Politics)

This collection of essays explores the complex relationship between religion and multiculturalism and the role of the state and law in the creation of boundaries. Western secular democracies are composed of increasingly religiously diverse populations. The idea of "multiculturalism" was formed as a constructive response to this phenomenon, but, in many areas of the globe, support for multiculturalism is challenged by attempts to preserve the cultural and legal norms of the majority. The State of Israel offers a particularly pertinent case study, and is a central focus of this collection. The contributors to this volume address the concepts of religious difference and diversity, as well as the various ways in which states and legal systems understand and respond to them. Mapping the Legal Boundaries of Belonging shows that, as a consequence of a purportedly secular human rights perspective, state laws may appear to define religious identity in a way that contradicts the definition found within a particular religion. Both state and religion make the same mistake, however, if they take a court decision that emphasizes individual belief and practice as a direct modification of a religious norm: the court lacks the power to change the internal authoritative definition of who belongs to a particular faith. Similarly, in the pursuit of a particular model of social diversity, the state may adopt policies that imply a particular private/public distinction foreign to some religious traditions. This volume, which includes contributions from leading scholars in the field, will be an invaluable resource to anyone seeking to understand the legal meaning and impact of religious diversity.

Table of Contents:
Preface Contributors Introduction - Let Us Compare Mythologies, Caylee Hong and René Provost Part I - Multiculturalism and Western Secularism Chapter 1 - The Christian Roots of the Secular State, Silvio Ferrari Chapter 2 - Conflicting Visions of Political Space, Suzanne Last Stone Chapter 3 - Human Rights and Secularism: Arendt, Asad and Milbank as Critics of the Secular Foundations of Human Rights, Shai Lavi Part II - Multiculturalism and Religious Freedom as Swords or Shields Chapter 4 - Religious Freedom as 'Reflexive Law', Ino Augsberg Chapter 5 - The Distinctiveness of Religious Liberty, Víctor M. Muñiz-Fraticelli Part III - Negotiating Identity Between State and Religion Chapter 6 - 'Inside Out/ Outside In': Co-Existence and Cross-Pollination of Religion and State, Shauna Van Praagh Chapter 7 - Who Is a Jew and The Law - Between London and Jerusalem, Daphne Barak-Erez Part IV - Whose Voice? Which Truth? One or Many? Chapter 8- A Dialogue Between a Liberal and an Ultra-Orthodox on the Exclusion of Women from Torah Study, Menachem Mautner Chapter 9 - Religious Claims as Public Reason? Polygamy as a Case Study, Angela Campbell Part V - Multiculturalism, Religion and the Geography of Power Chapter 10 - The Multicultural Nature of the Religious Accommodations for the Palestinian-Arab Minority in Israel: A Curse or a Blessing?, Michael M. Karayanni Chapter 11 - Localizing Religion in a Jewish State, Yishai Blank Bibliography Index

About the Author :
René Provost is a Professor of Law at McGill University, where he was the founding Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism. He holds degrees from the Université de Montréal, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Oxford. He teaches Public International Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, Legal Anthropology, and various courses in legal theory.

Review :
"The current state of multiculturalism and its future is an enormously important and difficult topic. This fascinating collection provides new insights through its imaginative comparison of Canada, specifically Quebec, and Israel. Tacking back and forth between these two countries, the book opens up in provocative ways the links between religion, secularism, human rights, and the possibilities of a post-multicultural society." --Sally Engle Merry, Professor of Anthropology, Law, and Society, New York University "This set of essays has much to recommend it. In general, the essays are clearly written and provide numerous insights into the tensions that come with mapping various boundaries (secular/religious; multireligious; liberal state/illiberal religious practice) in plural, liberal democracies."--Journal of Church and State