Eventi e Call for Papers

Call for Papers
Special Issue N.2/2026

Religion at the Crossroads of Politics and Participation

Editor: Rita Marchetti (Università degli Studi di Perugia)

The aim of this special issue is to explore the multiple intersections between religion and politics, which are increasingly recognized as central to understanding contemporary societies. In today’s contexts - characterized by growing religious pluralism, increasingly complex media ecosystems, and evolving forms of political and civic engagement - religion continues to play a significant role in the construction of collective identities, the dynamics of public debate, and processes of social and political mobilization.

Accordingly, religion represents a key lens through which to examine how religious practices, traditions, and beliefs shape political attitudes, civic engagement, and political narratives. This topic can be approached from a wide range of perspectives, encompassing diverse disciplinary traditions as well as theoretical and methodological frameworks, and addressing different actors, institutions, and policy domains.

A first area of inquiry concerns the political participation of religiously oriented constituencies, with particular attention to the role of religiosity in shaping political attitudes, electoral behaviour, and forms of collective mobilization. This perspective also includes studies on the relationship between religion and political parties, as well as analyses of how political actors and social movements mobilize religious references within political competition.

A second area of analysis focuses on the participation of religious institutions in public debate. In various national contexts, religious actors continue to intervene in the public sphere, contributing to the definition of public agendas and to the construction of interpretive frames through which key social and political issues are discussed.

Adopting a multidisciplinary perspective, this special issue seeks to bring together both theoretical and empirical contributions that examine the interplay between religion, politics, and media, as well as the role that religious symbols, discourses, and actors play in shaping and transforming public debate. Methodologically, both qualitative and quantitative approaches are welcome, including contributions based on mixed-methods research designs. In addition, submissions adopting a comparative perspective are particularly encouraged.

We invite proposals in English or in Italian addressing the following themes (in a no exhaustive list open to further topics):

  • Political participation of religiously oriented individuals and groups
  • The role of religiosity in shaping political attitudes and electoral behavior
  • Religion and political parties
  • Religion, media, and the construction of public discourse
  • Religious references in political communication
  • The involvement of religious actors and institutions in public debate
  • Religious symbols and narratives in processes of social and political mobilization
  • Interactions between religion, civil society, and forms of civic engagement
  • Comparative perspectives on religion and participation across different national contexts
  • Methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of religion in the public sphere

*Information for authors*

Potential contributors should submit an extended abstract in English or in Italian (4,500 characters, including references), a 100-word bio, and the corresponding author’s contact information. These abstracts must be sent by May 31, 2026 to redazione.eticapubblica@unipg.it. Please indicate that the proposal is for the “Special issue Religion at the Crossroads of Politics and Participation” in the email subject. Notifications will be communicated by June 15, 2026. After the abstracts have been selected, authors will be invited to submit a full paper.

Please note that acceptance of an abstract does not guarantee publication, given that all papers will go through the journal’s peer review process.

 

 

*Abstract structure*

The abstract should clearly describe the key questions, the theoretical and methodological approach, the evidence presented, and the wider implications of the study. Authors are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible about the spatial and temporal context of their study, the research design and methods employed, the data collected, and the main results of the analyses.

*Key dates*

  • Deadline for extended abstract submissions: May 31, 2026
  • Decision by issue editor sent by: June 15, 2026
  • Full paper submissions: September 6, 2026
  • First round of reviews completed by: October 6, 2026
  • Submission of final manuscripts: December 7, 2026