From 2024 to 2026, the central topic of the UCSIA Summer Schools on Religion, Culture & Society was Religion & Politics: (Dis)Entanglements in Communities & Societies. During these three editions of the summer school, we have explored the intersection between religion and politics, the communities in which they emerge and function, and the injustices they entail or critique.

Religion & politics revisited

For the past twenty years, the UCSIA summer schools have, in one way or another, dealt with the entanglement between political and religious phenomena in culture and society. The summer school of 2009 ‘Religion & Politics’ explicitly addressed the relationship between religion, pluralism and nationalism. Observing contemporary (geo)political shifts, these entanglements have proven relevant over the past years. Theoretical frameworks on the relationship between religion and politics, such as the secularization thesis or the clash of civilizations thesis have in the meantime been thoroughly criticized by many scholars, following new insights from decolonial, postcolonial, feminist, gender and environmental studies.

Inspired by the participants in the preparatory workshop (2023), organized in the summer of 2023, featuring the steering committee members John Arblaster (University of Antwerp), Jayeel Cornelio (Ateneo de Manila University), Bert De Munck (University of Antwerp), Judith Gruber (KU Leuven), David Henig (Utrecht University) and Walter Van Herck (University of Antwerp), alumni Marko Barisic (University of Kent), Francis Benyah (Abo Akademi University), Ann Gillian Chu (Hong Kong Baptist University), Stéphanie Machabée (Yale University) and Shilpi Pandey (VUB), and guest lecturers Siphiwe Dube (University of the Witwatersrand), Jude Lal Fernando (Trinity College Dublin), Vlad Naumescu (Central European University), Elayne Oliphant (New York University) and Cornelia Richter (University of Bonn), the steering committee decided to put debates on ‘Religion & Politics’ back on the summer school agenda in order to question the ambivalence of religion, recognizing its central place in community-building as well as in conflict, violence and healing. This cycle of summer schools has addressed the exchanges, tensions and boundaries between theological and political issues from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Fostering interdisciplinary dialogue

The UCSIA Summer School for PhD and postdoctoral students with a research interest in religion is designed to foster the dialogue between peers from different backgrounds and disciplines. By doing so, it seeks to critically analyze normative stances and contemporary academic tendencies that inform their research. In this spirit, the programme strives to encourage students to question the power dynamics and social entanglements that influence knowledge production.

We are immensely grateful for the valuable contributions from our steering committee, faculty members and participants in co-creating the stimulating academic environment that allows for interdisciplinary collaboration. During the past three editions, we have had the honor to work with and learn from renowned scholars and mentors and, promising PhD and postdoctoral students.

On to the next chapter

In 2027, UCSIA celebrates its 25th anniversary. On this occasion, we invite all summer school alumni and former faculty members to join in the celebration during the 2027 conference on ‘Religion, Culture & Society’ at the UCSIA-house in Antwerp. We look forward to writing together the next chapter in the history of UCSIA summer schools. Stay updated about our upcoming projects and alumni news by signing up to our newsletter.

2023 – Preparatory workshop

Guest lecturers: Siphiwe Dube (University of the Witwatersrand), Jude Lal Fernando (Trinity College Dublin), Vlad Naumescu (Central European University), Elayne Oliphant (New York University) and Cornelia Richter (University of Bonn)
Alumni: Marko Barisic (University of Kent), Francis Benyah (Abo Akademi University), Ann Gillian Chu (Hong Kong Baptist University), Stéphanie Machabée (Yale University) and Shilpi Pandey (VUB)
Steering Committee:  John Arblaster (University of Antwerp), Jayeel Cornelio (Ateneo de Manila University), Bert De Munck (University of Antwerp), Judith Gruber (KU Leuven), David Henig (Utrecht University) and Walter Van Herck (University of Antwerp)

2025 –  Competing Values, Shifting Norms: Questioning the Intersection of Religion and Politics through Moral Debates
Faculty: Nadia Marzouki (Sciences Po), Yasmin Moll (University of Michigan) and Vlad Naumescu (Central European University)
Paper presenters: Martin Couto, Junesse Crisostomo, Gabriela de la Vega, Nicolo Di Dio, Arisy Abror Dzukroni, Abdelmonim Elmoutassim, Mick Feyaerts, Prashant Kumar, Thomas Long, Pratishtha Maurya, Shajeem M Fazal P V, Muhammed Shaheel and Dries Ver Elst.
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