# New Republicanism in France This note tracks the emergence of a network of political actors and intellectual initiatives in France seeking to renew *républicanisme* through the defense of *laïcité* and civic universalism. These movements position themselves against both far-right *communautarisme* and progressive identity politics, particularly those seen as influenced by U.S.-style critical frameworks around race, gender, and religion. They promote a conception of citizenship rooted in common institutions, legal equality, and the neutral public sphere, often reframing class-based analysis as an alternative to identity-based fragmentation. --- ## Entries **10/10/2023**: [Printemps Républicain](https://www.printempsrepublicain.fr/) is a civic movement launched in 2016 to counter the growing dominance of identity-based discourse in French public life. It opposes both far-right *communautarisme* and what it sees as the “woke” turn on the left, particularly in its tolerance toward political Islam. Its core values include *laïcité*, universalism and a commitment to the Republic as a secular and indivisible political community. The movement includes members from across the center-left and center-right and frequently emphasizes social class and shared citizenship over ethnic, religious, or gender-based identities. **10/10/2023**: Le [Laboratoire de la République](https://www.lelaboratoiredelarepublique.fr/) is a think tank founded in 2021 by former French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer. The organization was established to counter the perceived influence of American-derived critical theories in French academia and teacher training programs. Its mission centers on reaffirming _laïcité_, state neutrality and the universalist foundations of French education. The Lab promotes a civic understanding of the Republic as a space of common belonging, opposing what it views as the fragmentation of the public sphere by racial, religious, or gender-based narratives.