La xénophobie : un « anti-fondamentalisme » ?

AUTEUR : FRANZ GMAINER PRANZL

ABSTRACT

The rise of xenophobic attitudes in Europe is seen an « understandable reaction » towards refugees and foreigners who are being associated with fundamentalist positions. Xenophobia is linked with certain discourses : with a policy of identity that strictly distinguishes the « own » from the « other »; a nationalisation and culturalisation of societal live; an idea of « integration » that leads to the suppression of all that is foreign; an attitude of irresponsivity (lack of responsiveness) that is unable to rise to new challenges; a paternalism that exoticises « the other »; and a logic of « idiotisation » (from the Greek word idios : own) which, in the social perception, revolves only around itself, around one’s « own ». In contrast, the attitude of « Catholicity » proves itself as a reference to the whole of life and society and as the ability to let one be challenged by the other. Such a « Catholic » attitude is to be seen as a clear opposite to fundamentalist positions.