Redemptive or Repressive? Capturing the Role of Religion and Secularism in the Age of Populism and Democratic Backsliding

In an era marked by political polarization and challenges to democracy, both religion and secularism are being used in new and often conflicting ways. Religious voices and narratives can foster societal unity and help individuals find meaning in their lives, but they can also justify exclusion and intolerance. Similarly, secularist perspectives can advocate for pluralism and equal citizenship, yet they sometimes risk exacerbating cultural divides or marginalizing religious groups and minority faiths. Moreover, the interaction between religion and secularism can either promote valuable democratic dialogue or create deeper societal divisions. This section analyzes the dual roles of religion and secularism as influential forces within democratic frameworks, especially amidst rising populism. It aims to investigate how religious actors engage with both populist and anti-populist narratives, as well as how believers and leaders respond to signs of democratic backsliding. Key focuses include the intersection of religious influence with nationalism, migration, gender politics, and moral issues. The analysis will also explore how populist leaders use religious or secular narratives to define "the people" and their opponents, and how these perspectives affect political trust, minority rights, and liberal democratic norms. Ultimately, the section examines the dynamic interplay between religious and secular worldviews in democratic contestation and their impact on democratic backsliding or recovery. We welcome individual paper submissions and encourage aligning them with one of the following panel themes: • Religious actors and populist mobilization • Faith, trust, and democratic resilience • Populism, religion, and morality issues • Populism, religion, secularism and the construction of collective identities • Religious nationalism • Comparative perspectives on religion and democracy • Party competition on the public role of religion • Between state and civil-society: Churches as intermediate organizations • Political controversies on morality political issues • Religion and terrorism: The securitization of religion • The governance of religious diversity • Religion, gender, and the struggle over sexual politics in a global perspective • The political opinions of the anti-religious The panels will feature theoretical discussions and empirical analyses, focusing on the relationship between religion and politics. We welcome submissions using diverse approaches, such as case studies, statistical analyses, and experiments.