010081 SE Religion and Politics: Basics and Current Issues (2025W)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Tu 02.09.2025 10:00 to Th 25.09.2025 10:00
- Deregistration possible until We 15.10.2025 23:59
Details
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes
Montag 06.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 13.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 20.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 27.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 03.11. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Donnerstag, 06.11. 17:30 -19:00 Exkursion: Treffpunkt Vorplatz Parlament- Achtung, Montag 10.11. entfällt
Montag 17.11. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 24.11. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 01.12. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 15.12. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 12.01. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 19.01. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Montag 26.01. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
This seminar deals with the complex relationship between religion and politics. Based on a selection of seminal texts in this field, we examine current conflict situations and their academic discussion. Students acquire a basic knowledge of the intersections of religion and politics in the light of various theories of secularization and pluralism. Students deepen their knowledge independently in one of the proposed topics. In addition to working on complex theoretical texts, students practise building bridges between theory and practice by applying these texts to current case studies. Students have the opportunity to gain empirical research experience and familiarize themselves with social scientific methods.
Assessment and permitted materials
Specific texts are planned for reading on each day of the course. In keeping with the interactive nature of the course, small text assignments are provided for preparation. Please always bring the required reading in electronic form or printed out so that we can also work on the text.Grading will be based on the following partial performances:a. Active participation and preparation of the questions posed on the texts (50%)
Short assignments/questions on the texts will be set for the literature on each day of the course, which will be announced in advance on Moodle. In the course of the semester, you are expected to submit a total of five of these tasks in writing.b. Presentation and essay (50%)
As part of a presentation and essay, you are expected to deal with a current area of conflict at the interface of religion and politics. You can choose from a list of topics. It is important to combine basic texts with applied examples.If the final essay receives a negative assessment, it will be returned to the student for improvement.
Short assignments/questions on the texts will be set for the literature on each day of the course, which will be announced in advance on Moodle. In the course of the semester, you are expected to submit a total of five of these tasks in writing.b. Presentation and essay (50%)
As part of a presentation and essay, you are expected to deal with a current area of conflict at the interface of religion and politics. You can choose from a list of topics. It is important to combine basic texts with applied examples.If the final essay receives a negative assessment, it will be returned to the student for improvement.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
To ensure that the teaching and learning objectives are met, attendance at this course is compulsory. Students may miss up to two 90-minute sessions (for 2 SWS courses) or two 45-minute sessions (for 1 SWS). If students are unable to attend additional lessons, they must provide credible reasons for their absence.By registering for this course, participants agree that all written work created within the framework of this course must be uploaded to Moodle and electronically checked for plagiarism.Use of AI in the Course: See the guidelines of the Catholic-Theological Faculty - KI im Studium: https://ssc-kaththeologie.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/s_ktf/2019/Im_Studium/Leitlinien_KI_der_KTF_Endfassung.pdf
In the course, AI may be used for part of the exercises in accordance with these guidelines. Details will be announced in the course or agreed upon with the students.In the case of suspected non-transparent or unauthorized use of AI, the course instructor reserves the right to hold a “grade-relevant discussion.” The purpose of the grade-relevant discussion is to ensure that the seminar paper has been written independently by the student. If it becomes apparent during the discussion that the student is unable to provide sufficient information on the content, methods, sources used, or conclusions of the seminar paper, the seminar paper will be graded negatively. If it becomes apparent during the discussion that unauthorized aids were used, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated for the use of unauthorized aids. Otherwise, the assessment originally intended by the course instructor will be maintained.
In the course, AI may be used for part of the exercises in accordance with these guidelines. Details will be announced in the course or agreed upon with the students.In the case of suspected non-transparent or unauthorized use of AI, the course instructor reserves the right to hold a “grade-relevant discussion.” The purpose of the grade-relevant discussion is to ensure that the seminar paper has been written independently by the student. If it becomes apparent during the discussion that the student is unable to provide sufficient information on the content, methods, sources used, or conclusions of the seminar paper, the seminar paper will be graded negatively. If it becomes apparent during the discussion that unauthorized aids were used, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated for the use of unauthorized aids. Otherwise, the assessment originally intended by the course instructor will be maintained.
Examination topics
Will be announced in the first course unit.
Reading list
A full list be provided in the first course unit.Bader, Veit. 2003. „Religions and States. A New Typology and a Plea for Non-Constitutional Pluralism“. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 6 (1): 55–91. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023294302099.
Casanova, Jose (2008) The problem of religion and the anxieties of European secular democracy. In: Gabriel Motzkin and Yochi Fischer (eds.) Religion and Democracy in Contemporary Europe.
Cesari, Jocelyne. 2009. Muslims in the West After 9/11: Religion, Politics and Law. Routledge.
Foret, François, und Xabier Itçaina. 2012. „Politics of Religion in Western Europe: Modernities in conflict? (Hardback) - Routledge“. Text. 2012.
Griera, Mar. 2016. „The Governance of Religious Diversity in Stateless Nations: The Case of Catalonia“. Religion, State and Society 44 (1): 13–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2016.1171576.
Hanley, David. 1994. CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE. A&C Black. (Introduction, Part 1)
Knill, Christoph, Hrsg. 2015. Morality Policies in Europe: Concepts, Theories, and Empirical Evidence. First issued in paperback. Journal of European Public Policy Series. London New York NY: Routledge.
Koenig, Matthias. 2015. „The Governance of Religious Diversity at the European Court of Human Rights“. In International Approaches to Governing Ethnic Diversity, herausgegeben von Jane Boulden und Will Kymlicka, 51–78. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Korteweg, Anna, und Gökçe Yurdakul. 2014. The headscarf debates: conflicts of national belonging. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
Kselman, Thomas A., und Joseph A. Buttigieg, Hrsg. 2003. European Christian democracy: historical legacies and comparative perspectives. Critical problems in history. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. (Introduction)
Leustean, Lucian N., und John T. S. Madeley. 2009. „Religion, Politics and Law in the European Union: an Introduction“. Religion, State and Society 37 (1-2): 3–18. (Special Issue)
Mattes, Astrid, and Sieglinde Rosenberger. 2014. „Islam and Muslims in Austria“. In Islam in Europe: Politics, Law, and Religious Life, Ines Michalowski/ Marian Burchardt (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer.
Minkenberg, Michael. 2002. „Religion and Public Policy Institutional, Cultural, and Political Impact on the Shaping of Abortion Policies in Western Democracies“. Comparative Political Studies 35 (2): 221–47.
Robbers, Gerhard [Hrsg.] 2005. State and Church in the European Union. 2. ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos-Verl-Ges. (Introduction
Casanova, Jose (2008) The problem of religion and the anxieties of European secular democracy. In: Gabriel Motzkin and Yochi Fischer (eds.) Religion and Democracy in Contemporary Europe.
Cesari, Jocelyne. 2009. Muslims in the West After 9/11: Religion, Politics and Law. Routledge.
Foret, François, und Xabier Itçaina. 2012. „Politics of Religion in Western Europe: Modernities in conflict? (Hardback) - Routledge“. Text. 2012.
Griera, Mar. 2016. „The Governance of Religious Diversity in Stateless Nations: The Case of Catalonia“. Religion, State and Society 44 (1): 13–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2016.1171576.
Hanley, David. 1994. CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE. A&C Black. (Introduction, Part 1)
Knill, Christoph, Hrsg. 2015. Morality Policies in Europe: Concepts, Theories, and Empirical Evidence. First issued in paperback. Journal of European Public Policy Series. London New York NY: Routledge.
Koenig, Matthias. 2015. „The Governance of Religious Diversity at the European Court of Human Rights“. In International Approaches to Governing Ethnic Diversity, herausgegeben von Jane Boulden und Will Kymlicka, 51–78. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Korteweg, Anna, und Gökçe Yurdakul. 2014. The headscarf debates: conflicts of national belonging. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
Kselman, Thomas A., und Joseph A. Buttigieg, Hrsg. 2003. European Christian democracy: historical legacies and comparative perspectives. Critical problems in history. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. (Introduction)
Leustean, Lucian N., und John T. S. Madeley. 2009. „Religion, Politics and Law in the European Union: an Introduction“. Religion, State and Society 37 (1-2): 3–18. (Special Issue)
Mattes, Astrid, and Sieglinde Rosenberger. 2014. „Islam and Muslims in Austria“. In Islam in Europe: Politics, Law, and Religious Life, Ines Michalowski/ Marian Burchardt (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer.
Minkenberg, Michael. 2002. „Religion and Public Policy Institutional, Cultural, and Political Impact on the Shaping of Abortion Policies in Western Democracies“. Comparative Political Studies 35 (2): 221–47.
Robbers, Gerhard [Hrsg.] 2005. State and Church in the European Union. 2. ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos-Verl-Ges. (Introduction
Association in the course directory
Masterstudium Religionswissenschaft NEU: M5 SE zu sozialwissenschaftlicher Religionsforschung; 066 800 [ALT] M5, M16, M17, M20, M21; A 033 195 (BRP 16rwb) [statt SE Seminar zur Religionssoziologie]
Last modified: Th 02.10.2025 09:45