Church-State Relations and the Integration of Muslims in Western Europe

Abstract

This paper examines the institutional and societal conditions that facilitate or hinder tolerance of religious minority groups. I conduct a comparative case study of Italy and Germany prior to the current migrant crisis to analyze the effects of various models of church-state relations as well as the level of community visibility of minority religions on the spread of religious discrimination, particularly towards Muslims. The results of this study suggest that more cooperative, inclusive church-state relations, coupled with increased visibility of a religion in the community, reduce intolerance of religious minority groups, including Muslims. These results fit sociology's theory of intergroup contact, which posits that increased interaction between an in-group and an out-group reduces the perception that one group's presence threatens the other group's existence or identity. I argue that a country's church-state relations model is a necessary but not sufficient factor that shapes tolerance of religious minority groups. Given the legal opportunity, visibility and engagement of a minority religion in the community helps to normalize the religion and thus increase tolerance. The findings of this study serve as a point of comparison that will aid future research in analyzing changes in religious tolerance during and after the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe.