The PaCS Debates: From 'le retour a la barbarie' to 'le droit d'etre ceux que l'on est'

Abstract

This paper seeks to analyse the ways in which the partnership legislation introduced through the French parliament in 1999 (Pacte civil de solidarité) has brought in its wake a re-examination of contemporary models of Republicanism and citizenship. Viewed by some as a threat to social cohesion (for Philippe de Villiers, for instance, the PaCS represented 'le retour à la barbarie'), for others the PaCS represents a means to examine, but also to strengthen, the 'elasticity' (Gunther, 2009) of the Republic, thus illustrating its ability to adapt to social and political change. Through analysis of the evolution of definitions of key terms in the PaCS debates, this paper charts the ways in which the partnership legislation can be seen to offer a practical, political and social means for a queering of citizenship in the contemporary Republic with its roots in the realm of sexual citizenship, but a reach that extends far beyond it.