Religion in the European Parliament

This book explores what the EU does to religion and what religion does to the EU. Europe is secularising, and meanwhile struggling with a renewed salience of religion as a political and cultural resource instrumentalised for various purposes.

List of contents

An introduction to 'Religion in the European Parliament: between nation and Europe' 1. Confessional culture, religiosity, and traditionalism: tracing the influence of religion on public attitudes towards European integration 2. The right and religion in European Union politics: from 'confessionalism' to 'conservatism' 3. Overview of RelEP2 (2019-2024) findings. Is there a politicisation of and through religion in the European Parliament? 4. United by history, divided by God? Religion among Dutch and Belgian members of the European Parliament 5. A republic uncomfortable with what comes from above (God or Europe): political representation and laïcité in Europeanising France 6. Vertical inroads of religion into European parliamentary politics: how socialisation and national party affiliation shape German MEPs' consideration of religion 7. God, [political] family... and Europe? The selective resilience of religion in shaping the work of Italian members of the European Parliament 8. Religion in the narratives of Polish members of the European Parliament - politicising European integration? 9. Portuguese MEPs and religion as a case of 'dual identity': Christians at heart, secular at work 10. The end of the 'Iberian exception': religion and the new Spanish far right in the European Parliament

About the author

François Foret is Professor of political science, researcher at Cevipol and President of the Institute for European Studies-IEE, Université Libre de Bruxelles; and also Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute, Florence. His research interest is in interactions between politics, culture and religion; comparative politics; and European studies.

Product details

• Authors: Francois (Universite Libre De Bruxelles Foret
• Assisted by: François Foret (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 06.06.2025
• EAN: 9781041047858
• ISBN: 978-1-0-4104785-8
• No. of pages: 188
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; RELIGION / General, RELIGION / Religion, Politics & State, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, Religion & politics, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, Religion and Politics, EU (European Union), International institutions, EU & European institutions