10/07/2025 15:15 - 17:30

HALL: Seminar Room 03

Proponent: Negri A.

Speaker: Croci F., Negri A., Pagotto T., Palazzo M.

Recent years have witnessed significant political upheavals in Europe and beyond. These range from the rise of new leaders and parties, some of which had previously struggled to achieve meaningful electoral success, to the crisis of established leaderships and the introduction of constitutional referenda proposing changes to fundamental principles historically enshrined in foundational charters.



This panel aims to assess the impact of these developments on religious dynamics and the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). It seeks contributions from scholars — across disciplines — who have studied the jurisdictions most affected by these transformations, including France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.



On one hand, the panel will address common challenges that have transcended national borders to become central issues for Western societies. These include the relationship with religious minorities, the management of increasing religious and cultural pluralism, and the balance between religious freedom and security. Such topics are now unavoidable for Western legal systems, drawing the attention of both policymakers and the judiciary.



On the other hand, the panel will highlight system-specific issues that uniquely characterize each jurisdiction. For example, it will examine the evolution of the principle of laïcité in France following Law No. 1109 of 2021, the approach of the United Kingdom's new government toward the Muslim minority — whose strong presence has given rise to phenomena such as Sharia Councils — and the latest trends in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice on matters of law and religion.



Ultimately, this panel seeks to foster a deeper understanding of how political transformations are reshaping religious freedoms and interactions in Western legal systems, offering insights that are both timely and crucial for academic and policy discussions alike.