Public policies, interfaith associations and religious minorities: a new policy paradigm? Evidence from the case of Barcelona

• Published in: Social compass Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 570 - 587
• Main Author: Griera, Mar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Sage Publications 01.12.2012; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Barcelona, Spain; Case studies; Christianity; Church & state; Church and state; Cities; Contemporary period; Cultural Pluralism; Europe; General subjects; Governance; Government and politics; History and sciences of religions; Interfaith; Local authorities; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups; Multiculturalism; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Platform; Public Policy; Public Sphere; Religion; Religions; Religious minorities; Religious organizations; Religious sociology; Spain; Studies in religion; Spain; Barcelona Spain; Religious minority; Secularization; Religious pluralism; Religion-State
• ISSN: 0037-7686; 1461-7404
• DOI: 10.1177/0037768612460800

Religious diversity is posing new and urgent challenges to local authorities and there is no solid foundation of expertise in dealing with this issue at the local level. In some European cities, interfaith platforms are providing local authorities with new governance tools to cope with the challenges of religious diversity and are generating new ways of framing and representing religion in the public sphere. The author takes the city of Barcelona as a case study with the aim of exploring the emergence of a new model for dealing with religious minority issues that goes beyond State–Church relations and the political legacies in this area.