The societal relevance of religious freedom research

Notes for academia, public policy and vulnerable religious groups

Abstract

In recent years, the study of religious freedom has received increased attention in academia. In parallel, more and more national governments and supranational bodies have taken an interest in religious freedom, developing documentation tools and appointing specialized religious freedom officers. Notwithstanding these developments, there is little consensus about the conceptualization and measurement of religious freedom. Moreover, the effectiveness of religious freedom research to combat religious freedom violations remains unclear. Based on a review of the articles included in this special issue, we discuss the impact of religious freedom research on academia, on public policy and on vulnerable religious groups.