Political Secularism, Religion, and the State
A Time Series Analysis of Worldwide Data

This book examines how the competition between religious and secular forces influenced state religion policy between 1990 and 2008.

Jonathan Fox (Author)

9781107076747, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 April 2015

291 pages, 7 b/w illus. 54 tables
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.1 cm, 0.53 kg

'Fox's detailed categorization and analysis of the phenomenon of state religion policy is essential reading.' Journal of Church and State

This book examines 111 types of state religion policy in 177 countries between 1990 and 2008. Jonathan Fox argues that policy is largely a result of the competition between political secular actors and religious actors, both of which try to influence state religion policy. While there are other factors that influence state religion policy and both the secular and religious camps are divided, Fox offers that the secular-religious competition perspective provides critical insight into the nature of religious politics across the globe. While many states have both increased and decreased their involvement in religion, Fox demonstrates that states which have become more involved in religion are far more common.

1. Introduction
2. Secularism or secularization?
3. Establishment, support, neutrality, or hostility: the varieties of official religion policy
4. State support for religion
5. Regulation, restriction, and control of the majority religion
6. Religious discrimination
7. Education, abortion, and proselytizing
8. Religion in constitutions
9. Conclusions
Appendix A. Data collection and reliability.

Subject Areas: Religious groups: social & cultural aspects [JFSR]