MACMILLAN Faith-Based Organizations and Social Welfare: Associational Life and Religion in Contemporary Eastern Europe (Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy)

This volume seeks to understand the role and function of religious-based organizations in strengthening associational life through the provision of social services, thereby legitimizing a new role for faith in the formerly secular public sphere. Specifically, we explore how a church in a postcommunist setting, during periods of economic growth and recession in the wake of transitions to capitalism, and with varied numbers of adherents, might contribute to welfare services in a new political regime with freedom of religion. Put another way, what new pressures would be placed on the secular welfare state if religious organizations (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, others) simply stopped offering their services? By examining public perceptions of the church, changing dynamics of religiosity, and church-state-civil society relations, the volume places these issues in context. Review “I welcome a further volume from Miguel Glatzer and Paul Manuel on religion and welfare in Europe. The emphasis this time is on a range of post-communist countries: some Orthodox, some Catholic and some markedly secular. What contributions do the churches make to the delivery of welfare in these very varied contexts? And―more profoundly―what does this tell us about the evolving place of religion in this part of the world?” ―Grace Davie, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Exeter, UK   “Following their focus on Western Europe in an earlier volume, Glatzer and Manuel turn their attention to Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe. This fascinating and illuminating volume brings together both country and theoretical experts, providing a comprehensive examination of how religious organizations can contribute to welfare services under novel political regimes which, at least theoretically, provide much greater freedom of religion than in the immediate past. A must-read for anyone interested in the current roles of religion and civil society in post-Communist Europe.” ―Jeffrey Haynes, Professor & Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion, Conflict and Cooperation, London Metropolitan University, UK   “An excellent volume that not only deals with faith-based organizations and their role in society, but challenges deep-seated assumptions about secularization, including by showing how Eastern European churches became more involved in the shaping of local democracies than their Western counterparts.” ―Lucian Turcescu, Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Theological Studies, Concordia University, Canada   “This authoritative text is of great importance as it explores key issues, offers insights and opens avenues for further research on the provision of social welfare services by faith-based organizations in post-communist Eastern Europe. This part of the world tends to be examined through a lens that is derived from Western European experiences and notions of secularization, modernization and democratization. The editors and authors of the volume explore the relationships between religion, democracy and social welfare during Eastern Europe's unique historical, political and socioeconomic trajectories in its multifaceted transition to a capitalist market-based system. Their insights make important contributions on topics of even greater significance, including the intertwined relationships between religion, democracy, the welfare state and social policy, and the economic marketplace.” ―Lina Molokotos-Liederman, Research Fellow, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, UK & Affiliated Researcher, Woolf Institute, Cambridge, UK   “Where previous work on religion in Eastern Europe often emphasized conflict and competition between the mainline Church or Churches and the secular state, this volume, ably edited by Miguel Glatzer and Paul Manuel, offers something new, placing its stress rather on the engagement of Churches in charity, including collaboration with state a