Karina Piser’s research explored measures to promote French secularism in public high schools in immigrant-heavy areas. Beginning in suburbs of Paris, she interviewed students, teachers, administrators, and education-policy practitioners to better understand how the government is targeting schools to improve social cohesion in the aftermath of the 2015 and 2016 terrorist attacks. Prior to receiving the ICWA fellowship, Karina was an editor at World Politics Review, and has previously held positions at the Council on Foreign Relations, the European Council on Foreign Relations, and the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights in Tunis, Tunisia. She holds a master’s degree from Sciences Po Paris, and has written for Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, and World Politics Review, among other publications.
France’s experience with terrorism has upended conceptions about free speech
As secularism and Charlie Hebdo become sacred, any criticism of the Republic is considered a threat.
Karina Piser speaks at Anglophone library in Angers
Outlines how the debate around secularism has evolved in the wake of recent terrorism in France.
Why hysteria about Islam is clouding France’s fight against radicalization
A new controversy over the headscarf is distracting the authorities.
The New Republic: Karina Piser on the ultra-secular French left
A student union president at the Sorbonne is demonized for her hijab.
The Atlantic: Karina Piser on French call to change the Quran
A French manifesto urges excising calls for the murder and punishment of Jews, Christians and nonbelievers.