CEU Political Science Student Alexandra Niculae Participates in SISP Workshop on Religion and Politics

The Department of Political Science at CEU is pleased to share that Alexandra Niculae, a second-year MA student, recently participated in the SISP workshop on Religions and Political Systems: Old Dilemmas and New Challenges, held in November 2024 in Turin. The workshop was organized by the University of Turin – Department of Cultures, Politics and Society – Laboratorio CRAFT, University of Perugia – Department of Political Sciences – progetto RE-PUBLIC, and the SISP Standing Group on Politics and Religion.

At the workshop, Alexandra presented a paper titled Copying the Archenemy: Instrumentalization of Religion to Reinforce Ethno-Populism, co-authored with Dr. Robert Sata. The paper examines the Romanian political party AUR’s use of Orthodox Christianity to bolster its nationalist appeal, drawing comparative insights with Hungary’s Fidesz. By analyzing how religion is instrumentalized to reinforce ethno-populism, the research provides a nuanced perspective on the intersection of religion and politics in Central and Eastern Europe.

Reflecting on the experience, Alexandra emphasized the workshop’s significant value for her MA thesis research. Engaging with scholars in the field allowed her to refine her arguments, gain critical feedback, and connect with a broader academic community working on religion and politics.

We congratulate Alexandra on this achievement and look forward to seeing the further development of her research!