Imagining France as an Islamic State: Identity Construction in Michel Houellebecq's Soumission
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Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature 14(2) April 2020 P-ISSN 1858-0157
Available online at http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/LC E-ISSN 2460-853X
Imagining France as an Islamic State:
Identity Construction in Michel Houellebecq’s Soumission
Andi Mustofa
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Email: andimustofa@uny.ac.id
Abstract
The regime change in France, which puts the Islamic group in a dominant position, has changed the structure of
the French Republic. The dynamics of social relation transformation cause shifts in the status of social groups
such as Islam, Atheists, Jews, and Catholics in social relation patterns. This descriptive qualitative research aims
at revealing the form of exclusivity, resistance, and negotiation in the construction of identity performed by the
characters in Soumission. The analysis is based on the concept of identity. The results of this research are the
exclusive identities of Islamic group are portrayed through the education and political system and the position of
women in social relation; the forms of resistance as a strategy in the construction of identity are made through
demonstration, mobilization, exploitation of the body, and rejection of the use of religious symbols; the forms of
negotiation are done by accepting and rejecting Islamic laws applied by the Islamic group.
Keywords: France, identity, Islam, negotiation, resistance.
INTRODUCTION
was in a precarious situation. The issue of immi-
grants, racism, political warfare between parties
In January 2015, Michel Houellebecq pub- is widely discussed and blamed as a trigger for the
lished his novel Soumission which becomes a de- crisis in France.
bate because of the sensitivity of the theme: Fran- France recognizes the principle of laïcité
ce becomes an Islamic State. Soumission tells the which has become part of the tradition and iden-
dominance of the Islamic group in France, which tity of the French Republic, which is based on
changes the social group position in French so- freedom, equality of men and women, equality
ciety. These changes include the Islamisation of of opportunity, rights, and obligations, and a sen-
the universities in France, the obligation for te- se of brotherhood between citizens regardless of
achers to be Muslim to be able to teach, the lega- the background of each individual (Bruley, 2005).
lization of polygamy, the obligation to cover hair Soumission’s story is focused on the domination
for women by using burqa and the prohibition of of the Islamic identity group in France and the
working for women. abolition of laïcité, which is replaced with Islamic
Although the story in Soumission is the re- laws. Although Soumission is considered as a fic-
sult of the author’s imagination, Michel Houel- tion, Houellebecq used real data as a source of
lebecq uses real French politicians as the charac- stories, such as the enhancing of Islam in France
ters such as French president François Hollande, which is a social fact, even though its reinforce-
French prime minister Manuel Valls, leader of ment has not been able to rule all of France as
the Front National Marine Le Pen, politician told in the novel. Houellebecq has tried to make a
François Bayrou and Jean-François Copé. The narrative about the Islamic group, which controls
use of French characters in the novel indirectly the French Republic identity. The Islamic group
gives the effect that the story in Soumission is true. becomes the dominant group, while the non-Isla-
The similarity of the situation and condition of mics groups such as Catholic, atheist, and Jews
France in real fact with the case in the novel is become the groups which are dominated.
one of the factors of this novel’s success. The Identity is the result of the individual in-
deep-rooted fear of Islam in France brought a teraction with other individuals or other groups
loud reception, not only to this novel but also to and also the mixing and cultures movement (Her-
the government. The government continues to be mans, 2001). Marc (2005) explains that identity
forced to blockade immigrants who are still ente- is self-perception, but the discourse of the other
ring France. The response of Soumission was wor- continually mediates this perception. Identity
sened by the condition of the French state, which is a process that never stops or established. TheLanguage Circle: Journal of Language and Literature 14(2) April 2020
identity will always be constructed, reconstructed METHODOLOGY
and also negotiated by individuals during the pro-
cess of interaction in the context of forming their This study is descriptive qualitative re-
identity. search. The analysis is based on the concept of
In his book Social Identity, Jenkins (2008) identity. The data source of this research is Sou-
states that identity is related to a meaning which mission a novel written by Michel Houellebecq
is socially constructed because identity is a part and published in 2015 by Flammarion. The steps
of social life. Social interaction is a process that of analysis to answer question-related to exclusi-
must be passed in the formation of identity. Iden- vity are as follows: 1) finding the action of exclu-
tity construction will always take place from two sivity showed by an Islamic group in Soumission,
directions that are formed through relationships 2) showing the particular practices which can
with others. During the process, individuals will distinguish the identity of one character with the
find an impression on themselves and also on ot- other characters.
her individuals. In other words, individuals will The subsequent analysis is to identify the
discover similarities and differences between contestation in the form of resistance and nego-
themselves and other individuals in social relati- tiation in the identity construction process. The
on. analysis was conducted as follows: 1) exploring
Castells (2004) argues that the general the possibility of the subject domination to the
principle of society is that when there is domina- other subjects in their interaction process, 2)
tion, there will be resistance (rejection) to power. showing the resistance practices by the subjects
Conflict will arise as a result of domination if it which are dominated, 3) showing the forms of
is done on a large scale. Furthermore, Woodward the subject negotiation as a result of the domi-
(2002) explains that the oppressed groups do not nance practices.
merely accept a forced identity but negotiate by
rejecting or accepting that identity. This nego- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
tiation is defined as a “transactional interaction
process whereby individuals in an intercultural Exclusive Identity of Islam in France
situation attempt to assert, define, modify, chal- The exclusivity of Islamic identity tends to
lenge, and/or support their own and others’ de- negate the non-Islamic groups. The superiority of
sired self-images” (Ting-Toomey, 1999). In other Islam is present in the form of privileges in public
words, negotiation and resistance are a form of as well as the domestic domain. This superiority
acceptance as well as rejection and legitimacy of implies a desire to determine identity. The type
the existence of others in the process of interacti- of Islamic exclusivity is shown in the following
on between individuals. passage.
Soumission emerged as a tool to convey dis- “Vêtues pendant la journée d’impénétrables
course about Islam that is increasingly spreading burqas noires, les riches Saoudiennes se transforma-
France. Michel Houellebecq gives rise to Islam ient le soir en oiseaux des paradis, se paraient de
as an exclusive group that occupies a high social guêpieres, de soutiens-gorge ajourés, de strings
class, respected, and has political, economic, and ornés de dentelles multicolores et de pierreries ;
social power in France. The dominant Islamic exactement l’inverse des Occidentales, classe et
group that changes all state rules based on Isla- sexy pendant la journée” (p. 91)
mic law influences the position of non-Islamic “Dressed during the day in impenetrable
groups in France. The strength of the ruling regi- black burqas, the rich Saudi women transformed
me requires that non-Islamic groups obey the ru- themselves in the evening into birds of paradise,
les that have been constructed by their social envi- adorn themselves with basques, openwork bras,
ronment. Even so, the dominated groups actively thongs adorned with multicoloured lace and pre-
carry out resistance and negotiation to form an cious stones; just the opposite of Western wom-
identity as a form of adaptation to the new so- en, classy and sexy during the day” (p. 91)
cial structure. The resistance may take the form The word impénétrables (impenetrable)
of passive resistance or active resistance by redu- implies the confidentiality of the women identity
cing, eliminating, or challenging the institutional by wearing a burqa. The nature of burqa, which
hierarchies that oppress (Martin, 2010). Thus, the is impénétrables from the outside but allows the
research questions in this study are the exclusivity wearer overseeing the others provides the exclusi-
of Islamic groups positioned by the author and vity of a religious symbol. Women in burqa acti-
the form of resistance and negotiation as an iden- vely define others but at the same time, using the
tity construction process reflected in Soumission. burqa as religious symbols prevents others from
164Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature 14(2) April 2020
defining the individual inside burqa. The others exclusivity in education is demonstrated by not
can only define the individual inside burqa based accepting non-Muslim teachers. This exclusivity
on their religious symbol, not by their personal is a form of the legitimacy of the Islamic regime
things in depth. That exclusivity is used to negate in education. The obligation of these Muslim te-
individuals outside the Islamic group. The exclu- achers at the same time explains that the teaching
sivity of women is shown by metaphor oiseaux des of Islam is closed and can only be done by Mus-
paradis (birds of paradise) to describe women in lims. Islamic teachers are considered as a group
Islam. Women are portrayed as birds of paradise that symbolizes the progress of thought, moder-
that show the high quality of women in Islam like nity, and elite social class. Schools as educational
God’s heaven. institutions are not free from the ideology of the
All exercise of power is a limitation of ruling regime.
freedom (Popitz, 2017). In Soumission, under the In the context above, Muslim teachers be-
regime of Islam, education has to be based on come identity-forming tools and being a means
Koran, the source of Islamic laws. The form of of transferring knowledge. Islamic identity is gra-
exclusivity in Islamic identity is the obligation of dually constructed through education from ele-
the society to follow an Islamic education from mentary to tertiary level. As an implementation,
the primary to university. non-Muslim teachers do not get the opportunity
“Chaque enfant français doit avoir la posi- to teach the class. To be able to join an educatio-
bilité de bénéficier, du début à la fin de sa scola- nal institution, becoming a Muslim is a must.
rité, d’un enseignement islamique” (p. 82) The Islamic Republic of France is a count-
“Every French child should have the op- ry based on the principles of Islamic ideology.
portunity to benefit from the beginning to the end Therefore, the laws of daily life must obey the
of his schooling, an Islamic education” (p. 82) Koran.
Islamic education is an attempt to perpe- “Les règles concernant l’alimentaire des
tuate the Islamic ideology. Education-based on cantines, le temps dévolu aux cinq prières quo-
Islamic law is used as a hegemony tool to state tidiennes devront être respectés. Le programme
the quality of education. The school that bases on scolaire devra être adapté aux enseignements du
other concepts are considered to have inadequate Coran” (p. 82)
quality. The only knowledge that is deemed to be “The rules regarding food in the canteens,
true is the one with Islam base. the time allocated to the five daily prayers must be
“Aujourd’hui c’était l’Islam, religion […], respected. The curriculum will have to be adapted
plus récente, plus simple et plus vrai” (p. 275) to the teachings of the Koran” (p. 82)
“Today it was Islam, a newer, simpler and The exclusivity of Islam is shown by the
truer religion” (p. 275) rules related to the worship of God. The impor-
Education has never been free of political tant thing in the Islamic regime is Islam and its
interests to perpetuate the existing socio-econo- followers who can do their obligation as a Mus-
mic system and existing power. This view also lim easily.
assumes that education is always used to preser-
ve or legitimize their dominance. In other words, Resistance and Negotiation in the Identity Con-
education is a way to maintain power to stay in struction Process
place. Therefore, the general nature of education The power of the ruling regime also in-
for them is nothing more than a means to produ- fluenced the formation of social identity in
ce social systems and structures that are unjust, French society. In Soumission, the power of the
such as class relation, gender, racism, or other re- Islamic group can dominate the minority group
lation systems. within the French community. Therefore, non-Is-
Education as a means of perpetuating the lamic groups fight the dominant force in the form
existing power structure is done through the for- of resistance. This condition is under Gramsci’s
cible transfer of knowledge. Individuals are dicta- opinion that social conditions in conflict with the
ted to receive an Islamic education. The assump- dominant group will lead to resistance (Fiske,
tion that Islam, religion plus vrai (Islam, the most 2007:245).
valid religion) confirms the position of Islam in The resistance that emerges in Soumis-
social relation. Interreligious relation becomes sion is a form of resistance to power. The rise of
misaligned, which results in an imbalance in reli- the Islamic government in France are forms of
gious, social relation. majority domination, both subtle and extreme,
In Soumission, teachers at every level of over non-Islamic minority groups. The type of
education are required to be Muslim. Islamic resistance that arises is a demonstration carried
165Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature 14(2) April 2020
out by non-Islamic groups who oppose the Is- As an activity that violates religious boun-
lamic group in France. daries, prostitution is considered as an illegal
The laïcité is the principle of freedom and practice because it has sexual relations without
respect for differences (https://www.gouverne- being based on a legal marriage agreement. Se-
ment.fr/qu-est-ce-que-la-laicite). This principle xual behaviour carried out by François is a form
is applied in the public administration system of resistance to Islamic rules implemented by the
in the French Republic (Moatti, 2004). In Sou- ruling regime. The selection of Muslim partners
mission, the abolition of the laïcité system and in the practice of prostitution shows this form of
its replacement with the Islamic regime as well refusal to comply with Islamic laws imposed on
as the violation of the ideas of liberté (freedom), non-Islamic minority groups.
égalité (equality) and fraternité (brotherhood) Although in Soumission, Islam is domi-
receive a strong rejection from people who nant, there will always be practices that deny their
have ideologies at odds with the ruling regime. existence. The practices of violation of Islamic
The rejection of Islamic law in France is car- rules are a critique of Islam which is considered
ried out through demonstrations as a form of not open to non-Islamic cultures. The practice of
resistance to the dominance of Islamic law ap- alcohol consumption carried out by Islamic lea-
plied in state life. Demonstrations of the French ders in Soumission is a form of accepting and re-
people are carried out to reject several things. jecting Islamic rules. They accept Islam as a new
The first refusal is that teachers are required to identity but reject laws that conflict with previous
have Islamic status to be able to teach in edu- identities.
cational institutions. The rule is considered to Swann and Bosson (2010) state that “iden-
hamper non-Muslim to occupy educational tity negotiation processes define relationships
posts. In social life, women are also required and make them viable as a foundation for orga-
to wear a head covering as a form of compli- nized social activity”. In the context of Soumis-
ance with Islamic regulations. The necessity to sion, women are required to use the burqa as a
use the burqa is considered as an effort to limit sign of their identity and a form of adherence to
women’s movements. religion. Negotiations on these Islamic rules are
When the ruler becomes very oppressive, carried out by wearing these clothes during the
resistance emerges in the form of a migration day and taking them off at night. The efforts to
strategy. Displacement is an effort to distance negotiate Islamic law are carried out concerning
from the space of domination. In this case, the certain times which are considered safe such as
French Islamic Republic. Individuals will look night time.
for areas that are free from domination which The negotiation in marriage is carried out
will not affect their identity. In Soumission, by the ruling regime group. The French state re-
the return of several Jewish groups to Israel cognizes three forms of marriage, namely le ma-
is a form of their resistance to the dominance riage, le PACS, and le concubinage (Rault, 2007).
of Islamic groups in France. Migration is car- These three forms allow both different or same-
ried out as an effort to maintain their exclusive sex couples to live together. The difference in
identity as members of Jewish groups. these three forms is the formality before marriage
The resistance of non-Islamic groups is and the various rights and obligations that bind
done by not obeying Islamic rules. The practice it. This marriage form that is unknown in Islam
of prostitution and free sex continues to be car- is maintained under the French Islamic regime.
ried out by the main character François to ful- This negotiation is an integrated strategy with
fil his sexual desires. The satisfaction of sexual French society.
desires is done by hiring sex workers, and even
François chooses a Muslim sex worker. CONCLUSION
“Je n’avais fait que très occasionnellement
appel à des sites d’escorts, je l’avais fait le plus The dominant position of the Islamic
souvent pendant le mois d’été [...] ça m’excitait group in France has changed the social structure
assez, compte tenu des circonstances politiques in French society. In Soumission, the exclusivity
globales, de choisir une musulmane” (p. 185) of Muslim women is portrayed in social relations
“I had only very occasionally used escort with other individuals or groups in the form of a
sites, I had done so most often during the summer burqa. Islamic education is an attempt to perpe-
month [...] it excited me enough, given the global tuate the Islamic ideology. Therefore, education
political circumstances, to choose a Muslim” (p. must be based on the teaching system based on
185) the Koran. The exclusivity of the Islamic group
166Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature 14(2) April 2020
can also be seen from the recruitment of teaching REFERENCES
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