This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 770640.
Our ten-partner consortium is looking at how religious diversity is governed in a broad range of cultures, comparing relevant norms, laws and practices. Within this process we are also considering the relative success of various regimes in integrating minorities and migrants. The aim is to deepen our understanding of religious diversity governance, emphasising insights for countering radicalisation trends.
In addition to comparing current models of religious diversity governance, GREASE is analysing historical influences affecting them. Specifically, the project is looking at how norms and practices for governing religious diversity have been transferred between Europe and the regions mentioned above. Particular attention is being paid to the legacy of colonialism.
With respect to Europe, GREASE is attempting to unravel the paradox of religious radicalization in light of growing secularization. The project considers the claim that migrant integration in Europe has failed because second generation youth have become marginalised and radicalised, with some turning to jihadist terrorism networks. We are also examining secularisation and radicalisation in light of wider societal transformations such as increased connectivity, mobility and inter-dependence as well as widening inequalities and the re-emergence of nationalism.
As Europe struggles to cope with the challenges of religious diversity and radicalisation, it may be useful to look at how other regions deal with these issues. In doing so the GREASE project hopes to deliver innovative academic thinking on secularisation and radicalisation and offer insights for governance of religious diversity, with a special focus on preventing radicalisation.
Some of the key outputs of the projects are listed below. For the full array of materials, chek out the project website.
The project, which has a budget of 2.2 million euros, is being coordinated by Professor Anna Triandafyllidou and Dr. Tina Magazzini from The European University Institute (EUI) in Italy. Other consortium members include Professor Tariq Modood from The University of Bristol (UK); Dr. H. A. Hellyer from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) (UK); Dr. Lily Yakova from The Centre for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria); Dr. Egdunas Racius from Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania); Mr. Terry Martin from the research communications agency SPIA (Germany); Professor Mehdi Lahlou from Mohammed V University of Rabat (Morocco); Professor Haldun Gulalp of The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (Turkey); Professor Pradana Boy of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (Indonesia); Professor Zawawi Ibrahim of The Strategic Information and Research Development Centre (Malaysia); Professor Gurpreet Mahajan of Jawaharlal Nehru University (India), currently an EUI fellow; and Professor Michele Grossman of Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia). GREASE is scheduled for completion in 2022.
*Initially the project was titled “Radicalisation, Secularism and the Governance of Religion: Bringing together European and Asian Perspectives”