Governance of religious diversity: current challenges and approaches to democratic coexistence. Introduction to the monograph
Abstract
This article reflects on the public governance of cultural and religious diversity. Religious traditions have long shaped dominant cultural patterns in Western societies, which now face the challenge of ensuring harmonious coexistence among groups with diverse beliefs and ways of expressing them. In democratic systems where majorities tend to prevail, it is essential to develop approaches that enable the meaningful inclusion of minority perspectives. Although policymaking in this area is primarily a national or regional level competence, local public institutions —due to their proximity to citizens— are often the first to address demands for religious accommodation, despite frequently lacking the capacity to respond effectively to an increasing religious diversity, and the different customs and practices related to it. This special issue brings together interdisciplinary contributions from the social sciences that pay particular attention to local and regional experiences in the governance of religious diversity and policy innovations across different national contexts and policy fields.
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