Nation, Religion and Politics PDF Print

Nation, Religion and Politics – 6 ECTS

Effi Gazi
    
Course description

The seminar examines the multifaceted relations of religion and religiosity with the nation in modern societies. The first section of the seminar focuses on the wider scholarly literature as well as on theoretical contributions on the subject in order to approach the following issues: national identity and religion, Church and State relations, religion and ideology, religion and culture, religion and minority identities, religion and migration, religion and multiculturalism. The second section of the seminar focuses on the Greek case. It examines the politics of nation and religion in Greece with special emphasis on the relationship of national identity and Orthodoxy, on heterodox communities, on Islam in Greece as well as on issues of religious minorities and immigrant communities.

Objectives

  • To help graduate students acquire knowledge of the role of religion in the formation of the modern Greek identity
  • To equip graduate students with knowledge about religious and cultural communities and minorities in Greece
  • To offer graduate students the opportunity to approach the topic  in its historical perspective as well as in its current dimension
  • To offer graduate students the opportunity to study critically recent scholarly literature on the subject

Learning outcomes

Graduate students completing the course should
Graduate students completing the course should

  • understand the contribution of religion and religiosity in the formation of collective identities
  • be aware of the role of religion in the construction of Greek national identity
  • have acquired sufficient knowledge about religious communities and minorities in Greece

Structure

The course consists of seven three hour seminars. The instructor analyses the most important aspects of the theme in the initial two meetings while the following part of the course focuses on an in depth analysis of relevant scholarly literature.

Students’ Assessment

Assessment will be through four written assignments of approximately 5000 words in total, in questions relevant to the theme of the course.

Bibliography    

R. Crawford, Τι είναι θρησκεία, Αθήνα, Σαββάλας, 2004.
D. Marquand-R. Nettler, Θρησκεία και Δημοκρατία, Αθήνα, Αλεξάνδρεια, 2003.
E. Kedurie, Μειονότητες, Θρησκεία και Πολιτική, Αθήνα, Κατάρτι, 2002.
D. Hervieu-Leger, J.-P. Willaime, Κοινωνικές Θεωρίες και Θρησκεία, Αθήνα, Κριτική, 2005.
Τ. T. Modood, Α. Τριανταφυλλίδου, R. Zapata-Barrero, Multiculturalism, muslims and citizenship, London, Routledge, 2007.
R. Clogg (επιμ.), Minorities in Greece, London, Hurst, 2002.
Δημ. Χριστόπουλος (επιμ.), Νομικά Ζητήματα Θρησκευτικής Ετερότητας στην Ελλάδα, Αθήνα, ΚΕΜΟ-Κριτική, 1999