Foret Overview of Rel EP2 Politicisation of and through religion in the EP (original) (raw)

Foret.RelEP2. Introduction to Religion in the European Parliament. between nation and Europe

Religion, State & Society, 2023

This contribution introduces a collection that presents selected findings of the second wave of the project ‘Religion in the European Parliament and in European multilevel governance’ (RelEP2) pursued during the term 2019–2024, after a first wave in 2009–2014 (RelEP1). This new research was necessary for at least two reasons leading to an apparent paradox: first, the ongoing secularisation of European societies which has increasingly questioned the relevance of religion as a political factor; and, second, the politicisation of religion as a discursive resource in a polycrisis Europe, both at national and supranational levels. The contribution first frames the objectives and modalities of the project survey, which investigates what members of the European Parliament (MEPs) believe and what they do with these beliefs. It then compares the contexts and outcomes of the two waves of the survey. The next sections relate together the two dimensions of the collective research: religion within the European Parliament (EP) on the one hand; and religion at the juncture of nation and Europe on the other hand. They summarise how this collection contributes to our understanding of religion in European politics, and the future research avenues it identifies.

Religion at the European Parliament and in European multi-level governance.2014.Conclusion

The analysis in this collection of aggregated data on the whole sample of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has highlighted the resilience of national belongings and political spaces as the prevailing elements structuring the way to deal with religion. In this conclusion, it is worth elaborating further on the comparison between these national patterns, on their possible feedback on European politics and on the different ways they can adapt to or resist Europeanisation. The most significant national cases are referred to as illustrations of convergent and divergent features, and non-European countries (the USA and Israel) are used to question European specificities on these matters. Seven main points are underlined, as findings of the RelEP projects and/or possible venues for future research: (1) the general secularisationa trend encompassing privatisation and culturalisation of religionwhich has reached all European societies, to various extents and with different forms; (2) the secondarity of religion to other issues, as well as its underlying influence and its status of instrumental resource to pursue other ends; (3) the importance of the congruence or non-congruence between national and European models for articulating politics and religion in order to understand how political considerations prevail over religious adherences; (4) the fact that European integration does not alter the religious dimension of national identity but may influence the context within which this religious dimension of national identity is enunciated; (5) (a) the development of the link between religious affiliation and party affiliation at the European level, with (b) the specific role of Christian Democracy and (c) the interaction between religious representation through parties and religious advocacy through lobbies, with the exploratory hypothesis that strong religious parties may make weak religious lobbies; (6) the structure of opportunity offered for the Europeanisation of religious issues according to their status in domestic politics, with the hypothesis that the conflictualisation of religion at home opens possibilities for political entrepreneurship on religious causes at the European Parliament (EP) and encourages atheists to make themselves heard in supranational arenas; (7) the importance of the territorialisation of religion, either (a) to ensure its electoral influence through the resistance of local constituencies where religion still matters very much, or (b) to put religion on the geopolitical agenda as a result of religiously connoted relationships with neighbour countries.

Religion and the European Parliament

The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Europe, 2021

As a representative body elected by direct universal suffrage since 1979, the European Parliament (EP) is the democratic bond of the European Union (EU). In the political culture of Europe since the Enlightenment, a parliament has embodied popular sovereignty, constituting the bedrock of the legitimacy of political orders; it exists to make the voices of citizens heard. The EP benefits from these expectations. Opinion polls show that it is the most well-known and well-liked of all EU institutions, even if Europeans do not necessarily feel themselves to be represented through its functioning. The EP is also the most political arena of the EU and as such offers the best opportunity for the expression of normative views, including religious ones. Proportional representation enables minority forces to gain visibility and resources. Consequently, it is likely to offer a relatively comprehensive reflection of Europe's ideological, cultural and denominational diversity. Nevertheless, the EP must submit to the usual constraints of EU politics. The necessity to seek large coalitions and to make compromises leads to the avoidance of controversial issues, especially religiously loaded ones. Deference to Member States, the delegation to experts and civil society, a focus on means rather than ends, and a predilection for the legal and technocratic repertoires of action are some of the features displayed by the assembly when handling debates in which values are at stake. In addition, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) face the inevitable ambiguity of speaking for Europe while representing national electorates. National cultures, majority denominations, and the history of state-church relations remain formative with respect to religion and the acknowledgment of contributions of faith communities to the public good. Political groups at the EP comply with this diversity. The purpose of this chapter is to offer an overview of the salience, relevance and effects of religion in the European Parliament. Several issues are analysed: the allocation of power (religion and European elections); the profile of political elites (MEPs and religion); the structuring of political forces (religion and party politics, using the

Religion and Euroscepticism: Cleavages, Religious Parties and Churches in EU Member States

West European Politics, 2009

Taking into account the attempts to render the European integration process a new cultural and value-based quality on the one hand, and the prevalence of sceptical positions on the other, the role of religion as a factor shaping the process of European integration and its accompanying features such as Euroscepticism deserves special attention. It may be argued that the entire EU is a project inaugurated and pushed along primarily by Christian Democratic forces and inspirations. However, the EU is currently characterised by an advanced state of secularisation in most of its member states and high levels of religious and cultural pluralisation. This article raises the question to what extent religious, in particular Christian, actors such as religious parties and the churches have strayed from this integrationist past and contributed to Euroscepticism. Furthermore, the second question is whether a confessional pattern of Euroscepticism can be identified. The paper addresses these questions by empirically and comparatively analysing the positions and influence of religious actors on Euroscepticism in a selected group of EU member states. It has been argued that the EU is a project inaugurated and pushed along primarily by Christian Democratic forces. The Catholic 'founding fathers' Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer and Alcide de Gasperi illustrate this, and one might add additional Catholic leaders such as Jean Monnet, Jacques Santer and Jacques Delors. In this vein, Philpott and Shah point to a 'pro-integrationist nexus of the Catholic hierarchy and Catholic politicians' at the core of the European project (

Religion and Politics in the European Union

2015

This book analyzes the place and influence of religion in European politics. François Foret presents the first data ever collected on the religious beliefs of European decision makers and what they do with these beliefs. Discussing popular assumptions such as the return of religion, aggressive European secularism, and religious lobbying, Foret offers objective data and non-normative conceptual frameworks to clarify some major issues in the contemporary political debate.

The Relation of Religion and Politics in the European Union

2012

Since the end of the Cold War there has been a revival of interest among scholar community in ideational factors and their role in International Relations. In that context culture in general and religion in particular became the objects of thorough analysis by political scientists. This paper begins with a general reference to the latest developments in International Relations and the role of cultural factors in shaping the dynamics of interactions that take place between numerous actors in international politics. Secondly, a recount of the debate on separation of politics and religion among scholars, commentators and practitioners of politics in European Union is offered. Secular and religious strands in the history of European Integration are identified. Thirdly, it is claimed that religious pluralism is equally important as the processes of secularization to understand the crisis of identity among Europeans especially when contrasted with institutionalised Islam present in Europe. In conclusion it is asserted that European "exceptionalism" will most probably diminish as an inevitable process due to numerous reasons: reaction to the rise of the role cultures/religions in IR, EU migrant communities, further enlargements and most importantly European embedded liberalism and pluralism.

Political Roof and Sacred Canopy?: Religion and the EU Constitution

European Journal of Social Theory, 2006

Debate over the place of Christianity in European politics and society has made an important comeback. The Convention on the Future of Europe's deliberations over the EU constitution has thrown into relief the role of religion in defining 'Europeanness'. In the context of a secularised Europe, Christianity is fighting for its institutional recognition and space in the public sphere. Religion may offer a cultural identity and work both to resist and to accommodate change. However, the Christian mobilisation has been challenged by those who defend the secular order. The debate over whether Christianity should be seen as constitutive of European identity has been framed by wider concerns about collective identities and memories in Europe.