Religion, Secularism and Politics

A Mediterranean View

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, Foreign Legal Systems
Cover of the book Religion, Secularism and Politics by , Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9781317695226
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: October 24, 2018
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9781317695226
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: October 24, 2018
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Political debates in many Mediterranean countries today are increasingly framed in dichotomous terms, highlighting divisions between religious and secular worldviews. The role of religion in public life or, put another way, the ‘public return of religion’, is a pertinent and controversial political question everywhere in the Mediterranean region. How do we explain this phenomenon? On the one hand, we can point to both economic and demographic changes, while, on the other, we can trace the impact of continuing secularisation. Together these two sets of developments produce new challenges to existing political arrangements.

This book examines the contemporary interaction of religion and politics in the Mediterranean region with a specific focus on democratization and democracy and the role in this context of selected religious actors. Individual contributions focus on several European countries (France, Italy and Turkey), while others are concerned with states in the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia). Among European countries, France is widely regarded as a highly secular country, with over 50% of people regarding themselves as ‘without religion’. Morocco, on the other hand, is a much more religious country, measured by the fact that an estimated 94.5% of Moroccans self-identify themselves as Muslims. The specific country studies were selected because, whether they are ‘religious’ or not, each case has current controversies involving both religious and secular actors which impact upon key political relationships, centrally involving religion, secularization and democratization/democracy.

This book was published as a special issue of Mediterranean Politics.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Political debates in many Mediterranean countries today are increasingly framed in dichotomous terms, highlighting divisions between religious and secular worldviews. The role of religion in public life or, put another way, the ‘public return of religion’, is a pertinent and controversial political question everywhere in the Mediterranean region. How do we explain this phenomenon? On the one hand, we can point to both economic and demographic changes, while, on the other, we can trace the impact of continuing secularisation. Together these two sets of developments produce new challenges to existing political arrangements.

This book examines the contemporary interaction of religion and politics in the Mediterranean region with a specific focus on democratization and democracy and the role in this context of selected religious actors. Individual contributions focus on several European countries (France, Italy and Turkey), while others are concerned with states in the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia). Among European countries, France is widely regarded as a highly secular country, with over 50% of people regarding themselves as ‘without religion’. Morocco, on the other hand, is a much more religious country, measured by the fact that an estimated 94.5% of Moroccans self-identify themselves as Muslims. The specific country studies were selected because, whether they are ‘religious’ or not, each case has current controversies involving both religious and secular actors which impact upon key political relationships, centrally involving religion, secularization and democratization/democracy.

This book was published as a special issue of Mediterranean Politics.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Handbook of Native American Literature by
Cover of the book Literacy and Language Analysis by
Cover of the book The Memoirs of Pere Labat, 1693-1705 by
Cover of the book The United States and Central America by
Cover of the book The Nordic Countries: From War to Cold War, 1944-51 by
Cover of the book Narrative Identity, Autonomy, and Mortality by
Cover of the book African Migrants and Europe by
Cover of the book Multiliteracies, Emerging Media, and College Writing Instruction by
Cover of the book Inside the Primary Classroom: 20 Years On by
Cover of the book Philosophy of Science and Race by
Cover of the book Thomas Tomkins: The Last Elizabethan by
Cover of the book Irish Children's Literature and Culture by
Cover of the book Theatre and Dictatorship in the Luso-Hispanic World by
Cover of the book Using Narrative Inquiry as a Research Method by
Cover of the book The Soldier's Orphan: A Tale by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy