laicity

Laicity, or laïcité in the original French term, is the principle that the state remains neutral in matters of religion and that religious institutions should be separate from political power. It encompasses both the protection of freedom of conscience and the exclusion of religious influence from official policy and public institutions.

Historically, laicity emerges from Enlightenment critiques of church privilege and evolves through the French Revolution and the subsequent establishment of a secular republic. Over time, it has become a broader reference point for how democracies manage the relationship between religion and state, with varying degrees of separation and accommodation.

There are different implementations of laicity across countries. In some contexts, laicity stresses strict separation and public neutrality, restricting religious expression in state institutions and public education. In others, secularism emphasizes individual rights to religious practice while maintaining a secular public sphere, allowing more space for religious symbols and institutions within legal and civil constraints. The term is sometimes contrasted with secularism in English-speaking realms, which can be more pluralistic or accommodationist.

Policy areas frequently affected by laicity include education, civil service conduct, funding for religious organizations, and the display of religious symbols in public spaces. Debates often focus on balancing equality before the law with freedom of religion, the scope of state neutrality, and potential impacts on minority groups and social cohesion.

Related concepts include secularism, secular state, and church–state separation.