Religious fact chair

Chair's activities

The Religious fact Chair is part of an ecosystem of teaching and research already deeply involved in the study of religious affairs. This includes the International Observatory of Religion, the International Research Network (IRN) "Contextualizing Radicalization" led by Nadia Marzouki, the "Preventing Violent Extremism" (PREVEX) project funded by the European Horizon 2020 program, and the "Emouna, l'amphi des religions" course.

In addition to drawing on the contributions of researchers and teachers at Sciences Po working from various disciplines on religious matters, the chair will promote exchanges and knowledge sharing among national and international experts through events, the annual award of a First Book Prize, and a visiting professor program.

Teaching Activities

• Labeling of existing courses at Sciences Po.
• Implementation of new courses at Sciences Po focusing on religious affairs.

Research Activities

• Annual award of a First Book Prize to a young researcher working on religious matters.
• Organization of a series of major lecture-debate events featuring the most prominent international researchers. The anticipated frequency is three lectures per year.
• Implementation of a "visiting professor" program. This professor will contribute to the chair's work while delivering a course at Sciences Po.
• Provision of support funds for researchers to organize seminars and workshops on topics related to the chair's scope. Two events per year are envisioned.
• Possibility of financing a research group at the Center for International Studies (CERI).

The governance

Affiliated with the Center for International Studies (CERI) at Sciences Po, the Chair is co-directed by Alain Dieckhoff and Stéphane Lacroix. Its work is coordinated by Charlotte Thomas.

Alain Dieckhoff is a research director at CNRS. He holds degrees from Sciences Po and the University of Paris Nanterre, where he earned his Ph.D. in political sociology. As a teacher at Sciences Po, he has been a visiting professor at various foreign universities and co-founded the International Observatory of Religion. Since 2014, he has been the director of CERI.

Stéphane Lacroix earned his Ph.D. in political science in 2007 (Sciences Po) after two master's degrees, one in Arabic language and civilization at INALCO and the other in mathematics at the University of Paris 6. In 2008, he received the thesis award from the French Association of Social Sciences of Religions. He is currently an associate professor at the School of International Affairs at Sciences Po (PSIA).

Join the club of partners

• Benefit from the work of the chair and enhance your visibility: get access to original research, participate in conferences, public lectures, and events that may lead to publications and communication activities.
• Become part of our recognition program: gain the status of partner, offering visibility on our physical and digital information materials, participate in events, and engage in the vibrant academic and student life at Sciences Po, including conferences.
• Take advantage of favorable tax benefits: either as a company or an individual.