Politics, Democracy and Religion

Course goals

This course will encourage students to:

• Critically Analyze the Interplay of Religion and Politics
• Examine the Fluid Nature of Religion in Secular Contexts
• Understand Key Issues at the Intersection of Democracy and Religion
• Cultivate Interdisciplinary Perspectives
• Encourage Reflective and Contextual Engagement

Content

In our politics – often regarded as secular – religion retains striking relevance: it shapes public spheres, informs policy decisions, influences social attitudes, and challenges the delicate balance between liberal-democratic values and religious freedom. Far from being merely a personal belief, religion emerges as a power – one capable of constructing worlds of meaning and defining the life of modern polities. At the same time, religion is hardly an autonomous, stable player in this dynamic. It is deeply shaped by – and responds to – the “secular formations” that seek to define its boundaries. From 2025/2026 onwards, each year this course will address a key issue at the intersection of politics, democracy, and religion – for instance, the crisis of liberalism and the rise of public religion, secularization and post-secularization, religion and law, religious radicalism, and the rights of religious minorities in democratic regimes.