Macron and the Scientific Institute of Islamology

[mamselle]

Thing is, if you've ever worked there you'd know there are more kinds of interactions between institutions that are stonewalled here.

A joint interactive study group is not unusual, certainly not sinister. They think more broadly about those things, and recognize more nuanced usefulness among groups we try to separate. The manuscripts I study are religious objects, they're also a part of the <<patrimoine>> so many are held and administered via governmental agencies like libraries and archives, but often with participating staff who have liturgical as well as historical and codicological backgrounds.

One can't read assumptions from one situation into another. Just because the US or Canada does things one way doesn't mean another country can't do them another, nor does it make their way wrong and ours right.

The UK even still has an established church, which brings its own issues.

Gotta go teach.

M. 

[marshwiggle]

Thing is, if you've ever worked there you'd know there are more kinds of interactions between institutions that are stonewalled here.

A joint interactive study group is not unusual, certainly not sinister. They think more broadly about those things, and recognize more nuanced usefulness among groups we try to separate. The manuscripts I study are religious objects, they're also a part of the <<patrimoine>> so many are held and administered via governmental agencies like libraries and archives, but often with participating staff who have liturgical as well as historical and codicological backgrounds.

That sounds more like a think tank than an academic institution. Would that be more correct?

[Durchlässigkeitsbeiwert]

But that just goes back to my point: Creating an "Institute" sounds like either pandering to that community or trying to keep a critical eye on them. Either way it's troubling.

There is a quote in the original post describing why efforts are being made:
"to understand each other better because it is of critical importance to us"

Also note that the speech directly mentions problem of "social science theories entirely imported from the United States" being of little practical use for France (regardless of their value elsewhere). This thread actually provided a good example how a direct projection of Anglo-Saxon stereotypes can be wrong with the discussion about meaning of "pontifical" and "Islamology".

[marshwiggle]

But that just goes back to my point: Creating an "Institute" sounds like either pandering to that community or trying to keep a critical eye on them. Either way it's troubling.

There is a quote in the original post describing why efforts are being made:
"to understand each other better because it is of critical importance to us"

Also note that the speech directly mentions problem of "social science theories entirely imported from the United States" being of little practical use for France (regardless of their value elsewhere). This thread actually provided a good example how a direct projection of Anglo-Saxon stereotypes can be wrong with the discussion about meaning of "pontifical" and "Islamology".

What's ironic about that is that much of the critical theory from the US had its origins in French post-modernism.

[Parasaurolophus]

Education in France involves a very strong emphasis on specifically French philosophy. Everyone's read their French classics, as early as high school. I think we can take it for granted that what they have in mind here is probably not what you do, and that they have a good idea of what has its origins in France and what doesn't.

(Frankly, it's probably the stuff you would like better, which is usually called 'analytic' philosophy and is pretty allergic to 'theory'. But I don't know, and don't have sufficient interest in finding out for sure. I just think we should be charitable in our interpretation here, and sensitive to a significant cultural difference.)

[dismalist]

The French State has always seen to the secularization of everything in sight, including education. Secularism is anchored in Article 1 of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

Look at this example of how secularism is interpreted and enforced in education: https://www.thelocal.fr/20180531/six-rules-from-the-french-governments-new-school-secularity-guidelines

Thus, I would interpret Macron's institutional plans as just another element of secularism. It will deliver the French State justification for dealing with Islam in a non Anglo way [as someone pointed out up-thread], that is eschewing diversity.

[mamselle]

Having lived, worked, traveled and studied in France since...hmmmm....first visit, 1973....what in thunder is this "French State" of which you speak?

I'm with Durchlass and Para on this.

You're drowning in a sea of nuance you don't understand well enough to critique.

I'd get out while the getting good.

M.

[dismalist]

You're drowning in a sea of nuance you don't understand well enough to critique.

Word salad. :-)

[mamselle]

Intentional.

M.