Multicultural integration is one of the major issues of our times. It arises directly from the increased migration and intermingling of peoples in a more interdependent world. And yet there are no universal ground rules to be applied, since different societies express their own values in deciding how citizenship and cultural diversity are to be reconciled.
France is at one pole of this experience. Its distinctiveness has been highlighted by President Chirac's announcement that the French government is to ban conspicuous religious symbolism in public schools. The decision is aimed particularly at the wearing of Islamic headscarves in schools (a practice that has been controversial for over 10 years), but it also includes conspicuous Christian and Jewish symbolism. The growing demographic and cultural strength of Muslim communities in France, most of them of North African origin from former French colonies, has stimulated the issue. Many young people from these communities have become more religious in reaction to discrimination and marginalisation in the host society, feelings exacerbated by growing support for the racist National Front party. A small minority of such families is influenced directly by Islamic fundamentalism.
Mr Chirac said the state education system, where religious teaching is banned, must remain secular. These values go back to the French Revolution and the subsequent history of French republicanism in its struggle to secularise French society by reducing the power of the Catholic Church. An impassioned debate this autumn has pitched much of the intelligentsia against representative religious organisations who say such an over-reaction will only make the situation worse.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith says it is disastrous and that intercultural and interreligious relations will deteriorate. Some moderate Muslims have lent it support, in protest against oppressive practices within their own communities, especially as directed against women - another law will ban women's refusal to be treated by male doctors in public hospitals. Teachers' unions are afraid their members will have to implement the legislation.
The new law is a confession of failure to integrate Muslim communities in French society. Such symbols of difference need not in themselves express hostility to core values of French citizenship. It should be possible to frame legislation which targets hostile acts more effectively. Addressing poverty and exclusion among immigrant societies would be a better approach than this.