Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities?
This study examines whether religion clauses in countries’ constitutions predict levels of government-based discrimination (GRD) against religious minorities. Using the Religion and State (RAS) and Religion and State-Constitutions (RAS-Constitutions) datasets, I find that clauses declaring official...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/1/92 |
| _version_ | 1797437526178267136 |
|---|---|
| author | Jonathan Fox |
| author_facet | Jonathan Fox |
| author_sort | Jonathan Fox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines whether religion clauses in countries’ constitutions predict levels of government-based discrimination (GRD) against religious minorities. Using the Religion and State (RAS) and Religion and State-Constitutions (RAS-Constitutions) datasets, I find that clauses declaring official religion, separation of religion and state (SRAS), and religious freedom have no significant influence on GRD. In fact, 152 of 154 types of religion clauses found in constitutions measured by the RAS-Constitutions dataset do not significantly predict GRD. However, constitutional clauses banning religious hate speech and protecting the right to not be religious are associated with higher levels of GRD. I theorize that these causes likely represent an anti-religious form of secularism, which can be hostile to religious minorities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:21:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cdfb13ac0a8141b8b76452d0c6b6429c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:21:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-cdfb13ac0a8141b8b76452d0c6b6429c2023-12-01T00:17:41ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-01-011419210.3390/rel14010092Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities?Jonathan Fox0Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelThis study examines whether religion clauses in countries’ constitutions predict levels of government-based discrimination (GRD) against religious minorities. Using the Religion and State (RAS) and Religion and State-Constitutions (RAS-Constitutions) datasets, I find that clauses declaring official religion, separation of religion and state (SRAS), and religious freedom have no significant influence on GRD. In fact, 152 of 154 types of religion clauses found in constitutions measured by the RAS-Constitutions dataset do not significantly predict GRD. However, constitutional clauses banning religious hate speech and protecting the right to not be religious are associated with higher levels of GRD. I theorize that these causes likely represent an anti-religious form of secularism, which can be hostile to religious minorities.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/1/92religious freedomreligious minoritiesconstitutionsseparation of religion and statestate religion |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Fox Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities? Religions religious freedom religious minorities constitutions separation of religion and state state religion |
| title | Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities? |
| title_full | Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities? |
| title_fullStr | Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities? |
| title_short | Do Religion Clauses in Constitutions Predict Government-Based Discrimination against Religious Minorities? |
| title_sort | do religion clauses in constitutions predict government based discrimination against religious minorities |
| topic | religious freedom religious minorities constitutions separation of religion and state state religion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/1/92 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathanfox doreligionclausesinconstitutionspredictgovernmentbaseddiscriminationagainstreligiousminorities |