Issues of Globalisation and Secularisation in France and Ireland

When one considers issues that are crucial to the evolution of French and Irish culture and behaviour, it is doubtful if there is anything more pertinent than globalisation and secularisation. Clearly, the experience of these concepts in both countries varies greatly: for example, while the French demonstrate a certain ‘méfiance’ – even ‘mépris’ – towards the globalistion project, which they associate with Hollywood, Microsoft, McDonalds and very little that is positive, the Irish, particularly during the Celtic Tiger years, were enthused by the possibilities it offered in terms of material gain and liberation from the excessive control of the Roman Catholic Church. In relation to the latter, many commentators argue that globalisation brought a more secular mindset to Ireland in recent decades, whereas in France the term ‘laïcité’ is strongly identified with the Republican ideology that dates back to the French Revolution. Clearly, therefore, the theme is a revealing one.
Cet ouvrage, qui contient des articles rédigés en anglais et en français, est composé des Actes du 4e Colloque franco-irlandais qui a eu lieu à l’université Rennes 2 en mai 2008 sous l’égide du NCFIS.

Yann Bévant, former Vice-President of Rennes 2 and Head of the Centre d’Etudes Irlandaises, lectures in Irish Studies and is a member of the Conseil National des Universités.
Eamon Maher is Director of the National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies in ITT Dublin.
Grace Neville is Vice-President for Teaching and Learning and Associate Professor of French at University College Cork.
Eugene O’Brien is Head of the Department of English Language and Literature at Mary Immaculate College Limerick.