Religious Liberty in Transitional Societies

It is commonly assumed that the issue of religion declines in political significance as societies modernise. However, the upheaval associated with the shift from authoritarian to more open regimes can be accompanied by a revitalisation of religion. Individuals within these societies are struggling to find meaning in the seeming chaos of political change; religious elites are seeking to define their own role within the new order; and political elites are looking for new ways of ensuring legitimacy and building national unity. In this book John Anderson constructs a theoretical framework where he compares and contrasts the politics of religious liberty in two Southern European countries, two Central-Eastern European countries and the evolution of the former USSR, particularly Russia. Exploring these issues of religious 'recognition' and religious diversity, Anderson attempts to expose the wider problem of creating a democratic mentality in such transitional societies, through extensive original research and interviews.

"[A] much-needed original study that furthers our understanding of the highly complex political role of religion generally and in transitional societies specifically. Anderson's comparative study is well organized, well written, deep in critical analysis, and the best book I have encountered on the important role of religion in societies making the difficult transition to democracy." Derek H. Davis, Baylor University, Slavic Review

John Anderson is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. He is author of Religion, State and Politics in the Soviet Union and Successor States (Cambridge, 1994), The International Politics of Central Asia (1997) and Kyrgyzstan: Central Asia's Island of Democracy (1999).