Religious identity challenges secularism in Western politics

Political movements in Western nations are increasingly shifting away from traditional secularism toward identities defined by specific religious frameworks. While secularism has historically promised safety from discrimination for migrants by ensuring the state does not belong to one religion, new narratives are gaining influence.

In the United States, leaders such as Donald Trump have emphasized the nation’s Judeo-Christian principles. In Europe, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has characterized Europe as a Christian continent, linking this identity to opposition against immigration. Additionally, Israel’s 2018 Nation-State Basic Law defines the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people, prioritizing Jewish national self-determination.