A counterexample to secularization theory? Assessing the Georgian religious revival

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_A6024D609E03
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
A counterexample to secularization theory? Assessing the Georgian religious revival
Périodique
The British Journal of Sociology
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Stolz Jörg, Gugushvili Alexi, Molteni Francesco, Antonietti Jean-Philippe
ISSN
0007-1315
1468-4446
ISSN-L
0007-1315
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
09/2023
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
74
Numéro
4
Pages
581-597
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Secularization theory allows for transitory religious revivals under certain conditions, such as extreme societal crises or state weakness. The country of Georgia has witnessed the largest religious revival of Orthodox countries and one of the most striking religious resurgences worldwide. This paper gives both a statistical and historical description of this revival and asks whether it is a counterexample to secularization theory. We show that the main thrust of the religious revival in Georgia lasted 25 years and seized the entire society in what was mainly a period effect. The most significant cause for the revival was a major societal and economic crisis starting in 1985 combined with a very weak state, creating massive individual insecurity. In these circumstances, the Georgian Orthodox Church was able to provide identity for individuals and legitimacy for governments. Other possible causes of the revival-state funding, too rapid modernization, or emigration-can be excluded as primary drivers of the process. The Georgian case shows a situation in which secularization theory expects transitory revivals and is thus not a counterexample.
Mots-clé
Sociology and Political Science
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Oui
Création de la notice
13/03/2023 13:58
Dernière modification de la notice
24/10/2023 7:09
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