Christian Joppke 
Veil 

The Islamic headscarf has become the subject of heated legal and
political debate. France and Germany have legislated against it,
and even the UK, long a champion of multiculturalism, has recently
restricted the veil proper. Ever since home-grown Islamic terrorism
struck Europe, these debates have become even more prominent,
impassioned and wide-ranging, with vital global importance.

In this concise and beautifully written introduction to the
politics of the veil in modern societies, Christian Joppke examines
why a piece of clothing could have led to such controversy. He
dissects the multiple meanings of the Islamic headscarf, and
explores its links with the global rise of Islam, Muslim
integration, and the retreat from multiculturalism. He argues that
the headscarf functions as a mirror of identity, but one in which
national and liberal identities overlap, exposing the paradox that
while it may be an affront to liberal values, its suppression is
equally illiberal.

Veil: Mirror of Identity will illuminate, challenge and
provoke readers, and will make compelling reading for scholars,
students and general readers alike.

Table of Content

Preface viii

1 The Islamic Headscarf in Western Europe 1

2 The Pupil’s Headscarf in Republican France 27

3 The Teacher’s Headscarf in Christian-Occidental
Germany 53

4 The Extreme Headscarf in Multicultural Britain 81

5 Liberalism and Muslim Integration 107

Notes 127

Bibliography 141

Index 151

About the author

Christian Joppke is Professor of Political Science at the American University of Paris.