Globalisation, Secularisation and Religion – Different States, Same Trajectories?

Existing religion-state arrangements in states around the world are challenged by changes associated with globalization. Economic and political changes globalization carries are often associated with a process of sustained secularization, unleashing of market forces and changed demographics that can significantly undermine existing arrangements involving religion, state and society. Recent accounts of secularization open the way for more nuanced, critical and empirical research of the declining role of religion in society vis-à-vis other systems (political and economic), the role of religion in individual lives (beliefs, practices and values) as well as the reassertion of religion in political life. The chief aim of the workshop is to (1) identify political, cultural, economic and demographic changes associated with globalization and examine their impact on religion-state and religion-society relations and (2) develop comparative and theoretical studies of secular-religious engagements in specific locations. The following questions will be at the core of this workshop and participants are invited to address them in their papers. They will be key to the debates in the workshop: · What is the influence of globalization on religious institutions and belief systems? · How do secular groups organize to take advantage of these changes?; · How do religious groups struggle to preserve or enhance the status of religion? · What new political arrangements involving religion, society and state are as a consequence formed?