THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS: EXAMINING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND NATIONAL IDENTITY AND PATTERNS OF POLITICAL ACTION

Lauren McKown (American University)
The presence of a state church in Norway for hundreds of years has led to a national identity oriented in part around Christian traditions and values. Today, the growing migration of people from other faith traditions has led some Norwegians to question the links between religious and national identity. My research seminar addresses debates about the role of religious identity in the construction of national identity and the relationship between religious and national identities and political participation. It pursues two major questions: 1) how does participation in a religious community influence understandings of national identity? 2) how, if at all, do individuals base their political action and strategies to influence state policies on their religious and national identities? I have been exploring these questions through a case study of Christian and Muslim religious participants in Bergen, Norway.

Lauren McKown attended the University of California San Diego where she received a B.A. in Anthropology. Lauren received a M.A. in Public Anthropology at America University and is currently a PhD Candidate there in Cultural/Social Anthropology.

Friday 12 April, 14.15-16.00
Uni Rokkan Centre, Nygårdsgaten 5, 6th Floor

Poster

SEMINAR SERIES ON TRANS-EUROPEAN POWERS AND THE RE-STRUCTURING OF MAJORITY-MINORITY RELATIONS

Seminar organizer: Hakan G. Sicakkan