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10 - Conclusion: Mobilizing the People of God

from Part IV - Representation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2019

Amy Erica Smith
Affiliation:
Iowa State University
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Summary

The concluding chapter takes a step back to examine relationship between the Brazilian case and religion and politics in Latin America more broadly. It considers the implications for theories of religion and politics in developing democracies. First, the chapter revisits the question of what explains religious groups’ entry into politics and the religious polarization of politics. Examining examples from Costa Rica and Chile, it is clear that demographic diversity—that is, rapid conversion to evangelicalism—is not enough to bring evangelicals into politics. Instead, evangelicals enter politics when they have the motivation, opportunity, and resources to do so. Two types of threats motivate religiously infused politics: actual or threatened liberalization of policies related to sexual and family traditionalism; and perceived threats to the religious ingroup, either from the state or from other religious groups. However, religious politics is also facilitated by the associative protections of liberal democracy, by permissive electoral systems, and by stronger demographic presence. Second, what are the consequences of religious politics for Latin American democracy? The chapter argues that religious groups can partially fulfill many functions of parties, helping to stabilize democracy as religious elites convey their political attitudes and support for democracy to citizens.
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Chapter
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Religion and Brazilian Democracy
Mobilizing the People of God
, pp. 162 - 175
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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