Governance of Religious Diversity in Urban Contexts
Summary
Urban environments are increasingly characterised by a multiplicity of faiths, practices and identities, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the management of religious diversity. Governance in this context encompasses formal regulations, institutional arrangements and informal practices that shape how religious groups interact with public authorities, civil society and one another. Key dimensions include legal frameworks for worship and expression, spatial allocation of religious infrastructure, mechanisms for dialogue and representation, and the negotiation of secular and faith-based values in public life. Municipalities, state agencies and non-governmental actors engage in multi-level governance to balance equality, freedom of religion and social cohesion. Approaches range from the establishment of consultative bodies at the city level to organisational policies that accommodate or restrict specific practices. Spatial strategies, such as zoning and the designation of worship sites, intersect with normative debates over secularism, neutrality and the visibility of religion. Governance outcomes influence community trust, minority inclusion and the mitigation of conflict, with implications for urban planning, social policy and interreligious understanding on a global scale.
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Governance of Religious Diversity in Urban Contexts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in governance of religious diversity in urban contexts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Governance of religious diversity: The ensemble of laws, policies and practices by which authorities and stakeholders manage multiple faiths in society.
Laïcité: A form of secularism originating in France that emphasises strict separation of religion and state and limits public religious expression.
Consultative body: An institutional forum where representatives of religious groups and public officials engage in dialogue to advise on policy.
Public space: Urban areas under communal control where citizens engage in social, cultural and political activities, including religious expression.
Organisational accommodation: Institutional measures and informal arrangements that enable individuals to practise religious beliefs within organisations.
References
- How organisations regulate Muslim body practices: a comparison of schools, hospitals, and swimming pools. Comparative Migration Studies (2023).
- Governing Islam in French cities: defining ‘acceptable’ public religiosity through municipal consultative bodies. Religion State & Society (2019).
- The regulation of religion in public spaces. Politics and Religion (2022).
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