Spain is no longer exclusively identified with Catholicism. This book sets out to understand the social dynamics of twenty-first century Spain through the perspective of religion and religious pluralism. Divided into three parts, Part I, Secularization in Spain, frames the analysis of this secularization process throughout the twentieth century and beyond, with particular attention to the process during the Second Republic and the quiet secularization of society that began under Franco's regime. Part II, Religious Change in Spain, establishes the broad framework of the process, addressing the changes that have taken place within Catholicism and the reaction of the Protestant minority as social mores became increasingly fast moving. Part III, Islam in Spain, addresses both its history (including colonial management) and current dynamics (how Islam is viewed by other religions; the impact of the March 11, 2004, attacks; and Islamophobic discourse). Religious Landscapes in Contemporary Spain is essential reading for scholars and students in History and Contemporary Affairs.

"Spain is no longer exclusively identified with Catholicism. This book sets out to understand the social dynamics of twenty-first century Spain through the perspective of religion and religious pluralism. Divided into three parts, Part I, Secularization in Spain, frames the analysis of this secularization process throughout the twentieth century and beyond, with particular attention to the process during the Second Republic and the quiet secularization of society that began under Franco's regime. Part II, Religious Change in Spain, establishes the broad framework of the process, addressing the changes that have taken place within Catholicism and the reaction of the Protestant minority as social mores became increasingly fast moving. Part III, Islam in Spain, addresses both its history (including colonial management) and current dynamics (how Islam is viewed by other religions; the impact of the March 11, 2004, attacks; and Islamophobic discourse). Religious Landscapes in Contemporary Spain is essential reading for scholars and students in History and Contemporary Affairs"-- Back cover.

This handbook offers comprehensive coverage of the history of Spain, exploring key themes and events in four broad but not necessarily rigid temporal categories: medieval, early modern, nineteenth century and twentieth century. The volume situates Spanish history firmly within the broader patterns unfolding across the European continent, emphasizing Spain’s active participation in the processes that determined the development of modern European society. With chapters from leading scholars from both Spanish and international universities, the book helps fill long-standing gaps in European history. This handbook provides original contributions on broad themes in Spanish history which are also accessible syntheses of the most recent scholarship. Making the latest research in Spanish history more widely accessible to an international audience, The Routledge Handbook of Spanish History is an essential reference point for students and scholars of Spain, as well as those working in comparative European history.

A historically informed and nuanced look at the growing religious diversity of contemporary Spain. Contemporary Spain is no longer exclusively identified with Catholicism. This book sets out to understand the social dynamics of twenty-first-century Spain through the perspective of religion and religious pluralism in the country, addressing both the recent history and contemporary landscape of secularism, Christianity, and Islam in Spain. The book is divided into three parts. The first part analyzes Spanish secularization during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It pays particular attention to the process of secularization during the Second Republic and to the "quiet" secularization of society that began under Franco's regime. The second part addresses changes that have taken place within Catholicism and the reaction of the Protestant minority to increasingly rapid shifts in social mores. The final part addresses questions such as the history of Islam in Spain's colonial management, how Islam is viewed by other religions, the impact of the March 11, 2004 attacks, and Islamophobic discourse in Spain. Religious Landscapes in Contemporary Spain is essential reading for scholars and students in history and contemporary affairs.

In recent years, the Southern borders of Europe have become landmarks for the mediatic and academic verve regarding the migration and diasporas towards and beyond ‘Schengen Europe’. In these debates, religion is acknowledged as playing a central role in the recognition of major societal changes in the continent, being object of political concern and attention: from the recognition of plural forms of Christianity to the debates on a ‘European Islam’. Yet, in this respect, what goes on around the borders of Portugal, Spain, Italy or Greece is still largely uncharted and un-debated. With the contribution of renowned anthropologists, sociologists and religious studies scholars, this book critically presents and discusses case studies on the sites and politics of religious diversity in Southern Europe, including the impact of migrant religiosity in national and EU politics. Contributors include: Anna Fedele, Barbara Bertolani, Clara Saraiva, Cristina Sanchez-Carretero, Ester Gallo, Eugenia Roussou, Fabio Peroco, Inam Leghari, José Mapril, Katerine Seraidari, Maria Del Mar Griera, Manuela Canton Delgado, Nora Repo, Ramon Sarró, Ruy Blanes, Sandra Santos, Silvia Sai, Trine-Staunig Willert, and Virtudes Tellez Delgado.

Demystifying the Sacred: Blasphemy and Violence from the French Revolution to Today offers a much-needed analysis of a subject that historians have largely ignored, yet that has considerable relevance for today’s world: the powerful connection that exists between offences against the sacred and different forms of violence. Drawing on cases from revolutionary France to the Russia of Vladimir Putin, the international authors probe the nature and agency of local blasphemy accusations, the historical and legal framework in which they were expressed and the violence, both physical and symbolic, accompanying them. In doing so, the volume reveals how cultures of blasphemy, and related acts of heresy, apostasy and sacrilege, were a companion to or acted as a trigger for physical action but also a form of how violence was experienced. More generally, it shows the importance of religious sensibilities in modern society and the violent potential contained in criticism or ridicule of the sacred and secular alike.