ABSTRACT

This book critically reviews state-religion models and the ways in which different countries manage religious diversity, illuminating different responses to the challenges encountered in accommodating both majorities and minorities. The country cases encompass eight world regions and 23 countries, offering a wealth of research material suitable to support comparative research. Each case is analysed in depth looking at historical trends, current practices, policies, legal norms and institutions.

By looking into state-religion relations and governance of religious diversity in regions beyond Europe, we gain insights into predominantly Muslim countries (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia), countries with pronounced historical religious diversity (India and Lebanon) and into a predominantly migrant pluralist nation (Australia). These insights can provide a basis for re-thinking European models and learning from experiences of governing religious diversity in other socio-economic and geopolitical contexts. Key analytical and comparative reflections inform the introduction and concluding chapters.

This volume offers a research and study companion to better understand the connection between state-religion relations and the governance of religious diversity in order to inform both policy and research efforts in accommodating religious diversity. Given its accessible language and further readings provided in each chapter, the volume is ideally suited for undergraduate and graduate students. It will also be a valuable resource for researchers working in the wider field of ethnic, migration, religion and citizenship studies.

chapter 1|9 pages

The governance of religious diversity

Challenges and responses

part I|46 pages

Western Europe

chapter 2|11 pages

Belgium

Devolved federalism

chapter 3|11 pages

France

From laïcité to laicism?

chapter 4|11 pages

Germany

Federal corporatism

chapter 5|11 pages

The United Kingdom

Weak establishment and pragmatic pluralism

part II|42 pages

Southern Europe

chapter 6|15 pages

The Italian case

‘Baptised laicità’ and a changing demographic

chapter 7|14 pages

Spain

All religions are equal, but some are more equal than others

chapter 8|11 pages

Greece

The ‘prevailing religion’ and the governance of diversity

part III|47 pages

Central Eastern Europe and Russia

chapter 9|10 pages

Hungary

Religion as the government’s political tool

chapter 10|10 pages

Lithuania

The predicament of the segregation of religions

chapter 11|10 pages

Slovakia

Fear of new religious minorities

chapter 12|15 pages

Russia

Governance of religion – what, how, and why

part IV|43 pages

South-Eastern Europe

chapter 13|13 pages

Bulgaria

Strong cultural legacies, weak institutions, and political instrumentalisation of religion

chapter 14|14 pages

Albania

Legacy of shared culture and history for religious tolerance

chapter 15|14 pages

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Persisting ethno-religious divide

part V|62 pages

The MENA region

chapter 16|13 pages

Turkey

Whither secularism?

chapter 17|11 pages

Lebanon

Confessionalism and the problem of divided loyalties

chapter 18|11 pages

Egypt

Religious diversity in an age of securitisation

chapter 19|10 pages

Tunisia

Governing the religious sphere after 2011

chapter 20|15 pages

Morocco

Governing religious diversity

part VI|67 pages

South and Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific

chapter 21|12 pages

India

The challenge of being plural and multicultural

chapter 22|15 pages

Indonesia

A complex experience of religious diversity governance

chapter 23|14 pages

Malaysia

A secular constitution under siege?

chapter 24|13 pages

Australia

Diversity, neutrality, and exceptionalism

chapter 25|11 pages

Governing religious diversity across the world

Comparative insights