Religious Freedom and Populism
The Appropriation of a Human Right and How to Counter It
transcript publishing
Religious Freedom and Populism
The Appropriation of a Human Right and How to Counter It
transcript publishing
Populism is a growing threat to human rights. They are appropriated, distorted, turned into empty words or even their opposite. The contributors to this volume examine these practices using the example of freedom of religion or belief, a human right that has become a particular target of right-wing populists and extremists worldwide. The contributions not only show the rhetorical patterns of appropriation and distortion, but also demonstrate for various countries which social dynamics favor the appropriation in each case and propose how to strengthen human rights and the culture of debate in democratic societies.
"»This book is a comprehensive and highly recommended resource for understanding and countering far-right (populist) challenges to FoRB.«" International Journal for Religious Freedom, 18/1 (2025)
Frontmatter 1
Contents 5
Forewords 9
Introduction: Conservative, Right-Wing Populist or Far-Right Extremist? 13
Reinterpretations of Religious Freedom by the Far Right in the German-Speaking World 29
Escalating the Populist Approach 41
Hungary under Viktor Orbán 53
Religious Freedom for Christian Majorities 67
Abuse of Religious Freedom? 79
The Political Instrumentalization of the Topics of Secularism, Religious Freedom and Islamophobia in Turkey 91
Populism, Religious Identity, and the Instrumentalization of "Religious Freedom" in the United States during the Era of Donald Trump 105
A Recipe for Political Polarization? 121
Religious Freedom in the Field of Tension between Populist Anti-Muslim Sentiments and Islamist Radicalisation Tendencies 131
Secularism in France and the Challenge of Populism 143
Restrictions on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Denmark 153
Commitment to Religious Freedom at the Level of the European Union 165
International Religious Freedom (or Belief) Alliance 183
Populism in the Land of Equality 199
Populist Appropriation and Reinterpretation of Religious Freedom 209
Beliefs, Brains and Breaking Chains 221
Social Media as a Tool against Populist Appropriation of FoRB and for Promoting FoRB? 233
Conclusion: The Case of Religious Freedom and Populism 247
List of Contributors 261
Acknowledgements 265
About the cover design 267
Contents 5
Forewords 9
Introduction: Conservative, Right-Wing Populist or Far-Right Extremist? 13
Reinterpretations of Religious Freedom by the Far Right in the German-Speaking World 29
Escalating the Populist Approach 41
Hungary under Viktor Orbán 53
Religious Freedom for Christian Majorities 67
Abuse of Religious Freedom? 79
The Political Instrumentalization of the Topics of Secularism, Religious Freedom and Islamophobia in Turkey 91
Populism, Religious Identity, and the Instrumentalization of "Religious Freedom" in the United States during the Era of Donald Trump 105
A Recipe for Political Polarization? 121
Religious Freedom in the Field of Tension between Populist Anti-Muslim Sentiments and Islamist Radicalisation Tendencies 131
Secularism in France and the Challenge of Populism 143
Restrictions on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Denmark 153
Commitment to Religious Freedom at the Level of the European Union 165
International Religious Freedom (or Belief) Alliance 183
Populism in the Land of Equality 199
Populist Appropriation and Reinterpretation of Religious Freedom 209
Beliefs, Brains and Breaking Chains 221
Social Media as a Tool against Populist Appropriation of FoRB and for Promoting FoRB? 233
Conclusion: The Case of Religious Freedom and Populism 247
List of Contributors 261
Acknowledgements 265
About the cover design 267
