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Nationalism, Populism and Religion 

12/04/2023

A conference-debate co-organized by Sciences Po - CERI and Alliance Program in the framework of the Chair of Religious Studies

In recent decades, new populist parties have emerged in Western democracies and beyond. In particular, in order to fuel the idea of nationalism, they have appealed to religion as a factor of identity, using it as a tradition to be revived and recovered, in order to feed a sense of belonging.

 
Through the religious element, populist political ideology tends to provide a highly simplified reading of reality, through a binary conflict scheme. Two types of adversaries would oppose "the people": the "enemies of the people", i.e. the elites denying religious heritage, and the "others", i.e. those who would try to impose their religious norms on the indigenous population. Immigration, multiculturalism and globalization would therefore contribute to the erosion of the religious identity of the people.
 
What are the political and social consequences of the exploitation of religion by populist parties? What relations do populist parties have with local religious institutions?  How does the identity-based use of religion influence political and electoral choices? What kinds of conflicts can arise from this? International experts on populism will attempt to answer these questions in the debate.

The event will be held in English.

Speakers:

Alain Dieckhoff, CNRS research director, director of CERI - Sciences Po
Christophe Jaffrelot, CNRS Research Director, Sciences Po-CERI
Nadia Urbinati, Professor of Political Theory at Columbia University, Kyriakos Tsakopoulos Chair
Nadia Marzouki, CNRS Research Fellow, Sciences Po-CERI

Moderator:
Anna Bonalume, philosopher, freelance journalist 

Responsables scientifiques: Anna Bonalume, Alain Dieckhoff, Sciences Po - CERI / CNRS et Emmanuel Kattan, Alliance Program 

 


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