Laïcité and Republicanism

When the French citizens created their republic their aim was to remove the roots of the Ancien Régime from its public institutions. Their method was simple: republicanism and laicity. To remove the aristocracies and autocracies and install governments created by the citizenry they replaced an absolute monarchy with a republic. Republic: the most important asset to the democratic movement in Modernity; destroying the foundations of despots and undemocratic principles, allowing democracy and rights to flourish in the power of the people. Not forgetting a protagonist in the Ancien Régime, the republican movement also aimed at removing the clergy by means of laicity: removing the power of French Clergymen from political and judiciary powers. In conclusion: radical policies to destroy an undemocratic monster. Fortunately these important ideas of the early democratic movement spread throughout Europe in aims of removing other Ancien Régime, like the memorable Revolutions of 1848.

However the 18th, 19th and even early 20th Centuries are very different from the post 1945 Europe. The democratic movement found other formulas to destroy despotism just as despotism found democracies eldest formulas to destroy democracies. We have come to understand that despotism and totalitarianisms have made good use of republicanism and laicity; while democracies have found monarchies and clergy that have fought against totalitarianisms. In other words: not all Republics are democratic and not all Monarchies are absolutist. Just as not all laicists are democratic and not all religion-based groups political.
Looking at the 1980s where there were nine totalitarian Republics and ten democratic monarchies in Europe. Even in 2009 two democratic monarchies are at the top 5 of sustainable countries while the top 5 failed countries are undemocratic republics. One would naturally assume that attempting to remove democratic monarchies on the idea that they are not republics is unnecessary, if not pathetic. Especially attempting to destroy monarchies where democracies have excelled, some to the point of becoming social democratic achievements. The same has happened with laicity and religion-based groups. Totalitarian movements brutally enforce anti-clericalism in the name if laicity; whereas members of the clergy and religion-based groups strongly fought totalitarian undemocratic movements; Including the Presidential Medal of Freedom being granted to one of the highest members of the clergy for his participation in the fight against totalitarianism.

In conclusion: there was a time where Republicanism and Laicity were indispensable tools for democracy. That time has expired, especially in Europe.