Wider research context
In examining religious diversity in Southeast Europe (SEE), researchers often only consider traditional religious communities, while neglecting – especially newly emerged – religious minorities and subgroups. A way to negotiate the religious diversity of this region is through interreligious dialogues (IRD), although it is unclear which religious groups participate in this governance process.
The 3-year project addresses this research gap with the overall aim of contributing to investigating the governance of religious diversity in ongoing transformation processes in SEE. The project provides deeper insights into the contemporary religious-political history of the underexplored case of Albania, where religious diversity is a unique social feature after the atheistic socialist past.
The project relies on sociological theories to explore governance in religious diversity and multiple secularities, challenging theories of secularisation and the resurgence of religions. It integrates data generated by SEE studies, especially from politics, history, and anthropology, and theories on IRD, religious minorities, gender studies, and peace research perspectives, focusing on tolerance and religious freedom.
Hypotheses/Question/Objectives
The hypotheses explore the consequences of past atheistic policies on all religious communities, fostering of interreligious solidarity, challenges faced by (new) religious minorities in IRD, and differential treatment of religious groups in such dialogues based on historical and organisational factors. The central research question revolves around the role of religious minorities in IRD as a governance process regarding religious diversity in post-socialist Albania.
Two research objectives are set: 1) developing a theoretical model to contextualise the ethnographic data on religious minorities, in order to 2) analyse their roles and strategies in IRD within power and solidarity networks.
Methods
Qualitative-empirical and interpretative methods are applied, including field research in Albania employing ethnographical techniques such as participant observation and interviews, evaluated through Situational Analysis to uncover dynamics, network structures, and strategies.
Level of innovation
The project addresses research gaps in Religious Studies and SEE Studies, emphasising religious minorities, IRD, and governance in SEE, extending research approaches to IRD by going beyond the issues of ethnic and national minorities relevant in the area. The unique cross-disciplinary conceptual framework explores power dynamics and external influences. It also enhances transparency through a commitment to open-access data.
Primary researchers involved
Evelyn Reuter, the PI, is specialised in religious issues in Southeast Europe. She will be supervised by two experts: Franz Winter from Religious Studies and Florian Bieber from Southeast European Studies.