ABSTRACT
This book presents the findings of the first ever survey of the religious preferences of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). An international research team interviewed a large sample of MEPs, with the purpose of investigating their beliefs and how these beliefs have an impact on their role as MEPs.
The findings of this survey are offered in order to discuss, in a non-normative way, some key political and intellectual debates. Is Europe secularized? Is the European Union a Christian club? What is the influence of religious lobbying in Brussels? What are the dynamics of value politics? Contributions also compare MEPs with national MPs and citizens to measure whether the findings are specific to the supranational arena and European multi-level governance. External cases, such as the USA and Israel, are also presented to define whether there is a European exceptionalism regarding the role of religion in the political arena.
This book was originally published as a special issue of Religion, State & Society.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter 1|21 pages
Introduction
part 1|50 pages
Smooth Transition from National Conciliation to European Bargain?
part 2|57 pages
Master at Home, Embattled in Brussels?
part 3|34 pages
In Transit: From Religious Stronghold to Liberal Laboratory
part 4|33 pages
So Far, Not So Dissimilar: European ‘Exceptionalism’ Challenged by Other Western Cases
part 5|12 pages
Conclusion