Is Republicanism an alternative to political liberalism?

What does the renewal of republicanism mean ? Are we, as a lot of people think, to understand republicanism as a real alternative to political liberalism ? Is republicanism perfectly distinct from political liberal ? Is it able to avoid its pitfall ? This paper addresses these questions, focusing on the case of freedom of conscience. Through a dialogue between Rawls's political liberalism and Cecile Laborde's critical republicanism, I explain why republicanism claims it overcomes political liberalism. Nevertheless, I emphasise on the fact that a perfectionist interpretation of republicanism presents some difficulties and I propose an alternative neutralist interpretation. However, such an interpretation calls into question the idea that republicanism is an alternative to political liberalism.