(De)legitimizing Religion in Politics – Theoretical Approaches

Abstract

The “old” question of how to accommodate religion within a political system has always been contentious and is still salient especially in secularizing societies facing religious pluralization. This panel is dedicated to the theoretical discussion about the relationship between religion and politics in liberal democracies and beyond. Debating the boundaries of legitimacy, under scrutiny are core concepts in tension within liberal thinking such as “religion”, “politics”, “secularism”, “equality” and “freedom”. Papers apply different theoretical perspectives, partly with reference to specific case studies.