Religious Institutions and Authoritarian States: church–state relations in the Middle East
Author: Fiona McCallum
Publisher/Publication: Third World Quarterly
Volume/Issue: 33(1)
DOI/ISBN: 10.1080/01436597.2012.627238
This article addresses the motivations behind the support of Christian religious institutions in the Middle East towards authoritarian regimes, as Church leaders opt for preservation of the status quo in order to secure survival and prosperity of their communities. By examining the church- state relations in Egypt, Jordan and Syria, and the role of Christian communities in each country in relation to the majority as well as the state policies towards minorities, it explores why an adaptation of the millet system is beneficial to the regime and to the church leadership.
