Should a Liberal State Ban the Burqa: Reconciling Liberalism, Multiculturalism and European Politics

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Debates about whether the Wahhabist practice of face-veiling for women should be banned in modern liberal states tend to generate more heat than light. This book brings clarity to what can be a confusing subject by disentangling the different strands of the problem and breaking through the accusations of misogyny and Islamophobia. Explaining and expounding the ideas of giants of the liberal tradition including Locke, Mill, and Rawls as well as contemporary thinkers like Nussbaum, Kymlicka and Oshana, the book considers a variety of conceptions of liberalism and how they affect the response to the question. Directly addressing issues facing many of todays societies, it unpicks whether paternalism on grounds of welfare can be justified within liberalism, the value of personal autonomy and the problem of whether a socially influenced choice counts as a genuine preference. Covering the role of multiculturalism, gender issues and feminism, this comprehensive philosophical study of a major political question gets to the heart of whether a ban could be justified in principle, and also questions whether any such ban could prove efficacious in achieving its end.

Reviews

In the midst of an overheated cultural war, it is such a pleasure to read Brandon Robshaws calm and incisive discussion of the controversy about the burqa. Robshaw combines a dazzlingly clear analysis of the arguments with an engaging account of the situation on the ground in a book that is both philosophically profitable and politically relevant. * Sarah Richmond, Associate Professor in Philosophy, University College London, UK *
Robshaw offers a comprehensive analysis of issues associated with banning the burqa. He provides the philosophical background that a student needs to grasp the dilemmas posed by the burqa in a liberal society. He also sustains a very high level of discussion; the book will be informative and provocative for professional philosophers and social scientists. I am impressed that Robshaw gives a full and accurate account of how some countries, such as France, have arrived at banning the burqa. Robshaw's thesis, which defends those who wear the burqa against regulation, is compelling because he recognizes other voices in the debate. Delineating his own argument in a heterodox atmosphere, Robshaw brilliantly dramatizes what it means to think about the burqa in a liberal spirit. * Daniel Gordon, Professor of History, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA *
Drawing on important work in contemporary political theory, this book addresses with depth and vigor an important practical challenge facing liberal societies today (and one whose implications extend widely). The unusual clarity and accessibility of the writing make it an especially useful model of how to engage thoughtfully with various pressing political issues of our time. * David McCabe, Director of Arts and Humanities and Richard J. and Joan Head Chair in Philosophy, Colgate University, USA *

Author Bio

Brandon Robshaw is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the Open University, UK.