Religion, secularization and party politics – an insight view

Recent research has shown that the issue of religion in the public sphere has become a relevant and sometimes contentious issue between political parties again. Several, simultaneous and interrelated causes can be identified to explain these developments: 1. Formerly Christian-dominated societies are becoming more secular, and the sometimes very privileged positions of Christian churches are being challenged. 2. The growing religious diversification, especially due to the increasing immigration from Islamic countries during the last 20 years, also challenges the established church-state relationship: On the one hand, Muslim minorities demand participation, recognition and a voice in society, but also in politics. On the other hand, there is an ongoing debate about the possibilities of integrating Muslims and Islam into Western, mainly Christian-dominated societies. 3. Right-wing populist parties, usually with a strong anti-Islamic orientation, present themselves as defenders of Christian traditions. They often frame Islam as a hostile and alien religion, whereas Christianity and Judaism are portrayed in a positive way. In this contribution, we present first (explorative) results of a qualitative interview study conducted with several MPs from Western European parliaments on the current role of religion and secularization in their parties. Our aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the current role and use of religion and secularization in party politics. In addition to highlighting differences between parties, we hope to gain insights into intra-party debates and lines of conflict.