Reviewed by Zikang Hou, Department of Sociology
Tariq Modood and Thomas Sealy’s The New Governance of Religious Diversity (2024) thoroughly explores how contemporary societies handle challenges related to increasing religious diversity. Managing religious differences effectively has become crucial in our time of intensified global migration and multicultural interactions. The authors examine two central issues: practically, how governments today manage religious diversity, and ideally, how governance might better support social cohesion and mutual respect.
Modood and Sealy begin by reviewing and critiquing major theoretical frameworks—secularism, liberalism, multiculturalism, and nationalism—that historically shaped discussions on the relationship between religion and the state. They suggest shifting away from rigid models of strict separation between religion and governance. Instead, the authors emphasize adopting flexible frameworks that respect specific historical and cultural contexts. They clarify secularism by distinguishing three types: metaphysical secularism, societal secularization, and political secularism, with the latter being the focus of his analysis, specifically the governance relationship between religion and politics.
A key theoretical contribution of the book is the introduction of "open secularism" and "multiple secularisms." Open secularism highlights that achieving religious equality does not always require strict institutional separation of religion from the state. The idea of multiple secularisms further illustrates that each country’s approach to religion-state relationships varies significantly based on historical and cultural contexts, challenging Western-centric views.
Methodologically, Modood and Sealy use an interdisciplinary approach, integrating sociology, political science, and political theory. Through detailed comparisons, they examine cases from Western Europe, including Belgium, France, Germany, and the UK, as well as South and Southeast Asia, specifically India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. there analysis is grounded in a broad range of sources, such as national constitutions, laws, historical documents, and expert interviews, ensuring comprehensive coverage across diverse contexts.
The authors introduce five types of governance of religious diversity: Majoritarian Nationalism, Secularist Statism, Liberal Neutralism, Moderate Secularism, and Pluralistic Nationalism. "Majoritarian Nationalism" closely associates the state with a dominant religion, often sidelining minority groups. "Secularist Statism," illustrated by France, keeps religion entirely separate from public governance. "Liberal Neutralism," exemplified by the United States, prioritizes individual religious freedoms without special support for groups. "Moderate Secularism," as seen in the UK, strikes a balance between neutrality and recognizing religious communities institutionally. "Pluralistic Nationalism," prevalent in India and Indonesia, actively embraces religious diversity through supportive frameworks.
The book highlights distinct challenges faced by each governance model. European states often struggle to integrate new religious minorities due to institutional rigidity and public resistance. In contrast, countries practicing pluralistic nationalism in Asia encounter challenges aligning religious laws with universal human rights principles.
Ultimately, Modood and Sealy advocate for "multicultural secularism," aiming to blend secular governance with inclusive policies that respect religious diversity. Their work significantly enriches contemporary scholarly and policy discourses. However, while the normative appeal of multicultural secularism is strong, the model's practical applicability in politically polarized or religiously homogeneous societies remains insufficiently examined. More attention to how such a model can be adapted to differing political cultures would enhance its relevance across diverse contexts.
Modood, Tariq, and Thomas Sealy. 2024. The New Governance of Religious Diversity. Cambridge: Polity Press.