Frans Wijsen

Expertisegebied: religieuze diversiteit & dialoog

Frans Wijsen is hoogleraar Praktische religiewetenschap en missiewetenschap. Hij houdt zich bezig met beleid en beheer van religieuze diversiteit in democratische maatschappijen. Zijn onderzoek richt zich op het religieuze spreken, sociale cohesie en conflict. Zijn uitgangspunt in het onderzoek is 'Dialogical Self Theory' en  'Critical Discourse Analysis'. Zijn onderzoek wil een bijdrage zijn aan het verminderen van de spanning tussen cultureel verschillende groepen in een democratische samenleving door het wederkerige verband te laten zien tussen toenemend extremisme en uitsluiting. Hij werkt moment aan het project 3-D: Diversity, Democracy and Dialogue.

Publicaties over democratie

  • Buitendijk, G.J., Hübenthal, C.H., Wijsen, F.J.S., Vorthoren, M. & Sengers, E. (2016). Religieuze instellingen en de participatiesamenleving. Tijdschrift voor Religie, Recht en Beleid, 7 (2), 5-21.
  • Wijsen, F.J.S. (2016). Religieuze instellingen en de participatiesamenleving. Tijdschrift voor Religie, Recht en Beleid, 7 (2), 13-16.
  • Wijsen, F.J.S. & Vroom, H.M. (2015). Religious pluralism, politics and participation in the Netherlands. Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, 25 (1), 43-67.
  • Wijsen, F.J.S. (2013). Religious Discourse, Social Cohesion and Conflict. Studying Muslim - Christian Relations (Religions and Discourse, 55). Oxford: Peter Lang.

Projects

  • Managing religious diversity in Indonesia. Indonesia is known for its national philosophy of unity in diversity ('pancasila'). The Indonesian government promotes a tolerant form of Islam ('Islam Nusantara') and has a deliberate policy of managing religious diversity. In this project I study how this policy works out in everyday relations between Muslims and Christians in view of a practice theory of lived religion and religious diversity management.
  • Islamic extremism and modes of governance in Tanzania. Since the introduction of the free market economy and a multi party democracy inequalities between Muslims and Christians become visible. Muslims consider themselves to be second class citizens in their own country and discriminated against by the government. In this project I study how Muslims in Tanzania relate to Christians and to the government, and in doing so, how they draw upon social cognitions that are stored in their long term memory.
  • Identification and integration of immigrants in The Netherlands. In The Netherlands there is a debate on multiculturalism as a drama or illusion. It is assumed that the policy of integration with retaining the own identity has failed. In this project I study whether or not multiple identifications of immigrants hinder their integration into the Dutch society. I also study the reversed mission of foreign clerics (Catholic and Muslim).

Frans Wijsen