The State and Religious Minorities in Sweden (Boundaries of Religious Freedom: Regulating Religion in Diverse Societies)

This book, a revised version of Lundgren’s PhD thesis, offers a deepened understanding of the changes in the governance of religious diversity and the complex relationship between state and religion. Linnea Lundgren explores how the narrative of risk and resource came to be by looking beyond the developments in the last few decades (particularly since 9/11) and analysing how the governance of religious diversity has developed over time. In particular, she focuses on the case of Sweden that is often regarded as one of the most secular countries in the world, while simultaneously being recognised as one of the most multi-religious countries in Europe due to a rise in immigration. This book reveals how the state has had a central role in setting the terms and conditions that both enable and limit what religious communities can do, thus shaping the function and role of religion in the public realm. Through the analysis of an extensive number of government documents over a period of seventy years (1952-2022), Lundgren challenges the idea that many of the recent controversies concerning religious diversity are new. She argues that many of the discussions held today regarding the accommodation of Muslims are decidedly similar to previous discussions regarding the management of Catholics and the Free Churches in the 1950s and 1960s. She shows that the underlying fear has remained the same; that the individual’s rights can become weakened or diminished in religious communities and that religious minorities will challenge the common shared values of the society. In light of this Lundgren concludes that in order to understand what is really at stake in the debate regarding religious diversity in Sweden today, there is a need to look at underlying tensions that exist between the state, civil society and the individual, a relationship that differs considerably in the Nordic context compared to other contexts. This text appeals to students and researchers working in the sociology of religion and people who work with governance of religion, religion and civil society, and religion and law in Europe. Preface Summary Contents Chapter 1: Inclusion and Exclusion of Religious Minorities The Case of Sweden New Visibility of Religion in the Public Realm A New Policy Sector? Regulating Religious Diversity Regulation and Control Church and State Policy Transfer Governed Religion Outline of the Book Chapter 2: The State, Civil Society and the Individual Governance of Religious Diversity Risk and Resource from a Civil Society and State Perspective Two Perspectives on Civil Society and the State The Origins of a Complex Concept The Neo-Tocquevillian Tradition The Neo-Hegelian Tradition A Theoretical Lens Chapter 3: The State, the Church and Religious Minorities Before 1952 The Religious Other Struggle for Religious Freedom Church and State Chapter 4: Policy Field of Religion-State Relations Policy Phase of Deliberation (1950s–1960s) The Early Debate Path Dependency and the Issue of Neutrality From Unity to Diversity Limits to Neutrality and Perceived Risk Religious Communities as a Resource Policy Outcome of the First Policy Phase Policy Phase of Recognition and Silence (1970s–1980s) A New Government Commission with a Widened Focus A Changing Society Access to Religion in a Secular Society A Resource in a Private Sphere Government Support to Religious Minorities Policy Outcome in the Second Policy Phase Policy Phase of Regulation and Civic Religion (1990s–2020s) The Start of a New Era Usefulness of Religion Conditions for the Support Closing Ties Between Religion and State Following 2000 A New Religious Sector From Church-State to Religion-State: A Final Commission Appointed Governance of Exclusion A Problem and a Solution Policy Outcome in the Third Policy Phase Conclusions from the Policy Field of Religion-State Chapter 5: Policy Field of Education Policy Phase of Deliberation (1950s–1960s) Christianity Versus Religion Concerns of a Fragmented School System A New Commission: Adjustment of Immigrants Policy Outcome in the First Policy Phase Policy Phase of Recognition and Silence (1970s–1980s) Uniformity of Public Schools Policy Outcome in the Second Policy Phase Policy Phase of Regulation and Civic Religion (1990s–2020s) New Regulations for Religious Schools New Conditions The Risk of New Religious Movements A Continuing Debate of the Problems and Risks with Religious Schools Is it Possible to Ban Religious Schools? Policy Outcome in the Third Policy Phase Conclusion from the Policy Field of Education Chapter 6: Policy Field of Integration Policy Phase Deliberation (1950s and 1960s) Assimilation or Equality Policy Outcome in the First Policy Phase Policy Phase of Recognition and Silence (1970s–1980s) Multicultural Policies Introduced Further Equality for Religious Minorities Policy Outcome of the IU Commission A New Commission with Further Attention to the Religious Aspects of Immigration Religious Versus Ethnic Organisations Policy Outcome of the IPOK Commission Further Recognition of Immigrant Religious Communities Policy Outcome in the Second Policy Phase Policy Phase of Regulation and Civic Religion (1990s–2020s) Reconsidering Immigration Policies The Religious Aspect of Immigration Imams as Tools for Integration Policy Outcome in the Third Policy Phase Conclusion from the Policy Field of Integration Chapter 7: Continuity and Change in the Governance of Religion Changes in the Governance of Religious Diversity: Two Policy Shifts 1974: The Policy Shift of Recognition Equalisation and Recognition Multiculturalism and Recognition of Minorities Secularisation and the Will to Religion 2000: Policy Shift of Civic Religion Discourse of Prevention Global Governance Discourse Civic Integration Discourse Civil Society Discourse Deprivatisation Continuity in the Governance of Religious Diversity Chapter 8: A Risk or a Resource? The Individual, the Religious Community and the State A Risk or Resource? The Risk: The Individual, the Minority Religious Community, and the State A Resource: Supporting the Needs of the State Cross-National Differences Concluding Remarks Untitled References Government Documents Legal Acts