laicism

Laicism, or laïcité in French, is a principle of secular governance in which the state remains neutral toward religion and keeps religious institutions socially and financially separate from public authority. The term derives from laïque, meaning lay or non-clerical. In a laic system, individuals enjoy freedom of conscience and religion, while public institutions and laws are governed by neutral, secular norms.

Core features typically include the separation of church and state, equality before the law regardless of belief, and the exclusion of religious influence from public decision-making. Public education and civil service are expected to operate on secular principles, and state funding or official recognition is limited to non-religious activities or strictly regulated arrangements. In practice, laicism often involves limits on religious expression in public institutions and spaces, with the aim of protecting civic equality and public neutrality.

Historically, laicism has deep roots in Enlightenment critique of church privilege and in the French Revolution. The most influential development is the 1905 law on the Separation of Churches and State in France, which ended state funding of religious groups and established state neutrality in religious matters. The French constitution and subsequent laws have reinforced this framework, though the application and limits of laïcité remain contested, especially regarding symbols, education, and religious expression.

Variations exist beyond France; some countries pursue strict secularism, others emphasize accommodation and pluralism. Debates often center on balancing liberty of belief with communal neutrality, the role of religion in public life, and the rights of religious minorities within a secular state.