In this editorial, published as part of the Journal of Religious and Political Practice's special issue on "Religion and Politics: Bringing the State Back," Jocelyne Cesari introduces a series of papers that
seek to contribute to the growing literature on the role of religion in
democratization, specifically focusing on interactions between the
state and religion. Although religion may not be the most significant factor in
democratization, it still has the power to influence the building of new
institutions, the legal status of civil liberties, and patterns of political
participation, all of which are important factors when it comes to the
consolidation of democracy. Moreover, in order to capture the specific role of
religion in democratic or political changes, it is necessary to move away from
the dichotomy of state and religion and explore more deeply the interactions
between state and religious organizations and actors. Consequently, Cesari maintains that the often-assumed antagonism between the
two represents only one form of interaction, which may be used or combined with
competition, adaptation, and cooperation.
