Christian and Muslim Communities and Interactions in the Balkans and Eastern Europe

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue seeks to bring together scholars to explore the diverse and dynamic interactions between Christian and Muslim communities in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, with a focus on understanding coexistence, cultural exchange, and conflict processes within these historically complex societies.

Christianity and Islam have shaped human civilisations significantly, each establishing distinct yet evolving value systems and moral frameworks. Rather than viewing these religious traditions as static, this Special Issue will recognise the fluidity of cultural and religious identities shaped by historical contexts, local interactions, and broader transnational processes.

Historically, the states and empires of the Balkans and Eastern Europe have played a central role in shaping the region's religious and cultural landscape, and they represent a rich tapestry of identities and interactions where multiple cultural, spiritual, and political influences intersect. Being polyethnic and polyconfessional, they fostered unique coexistence and cultural hybridity, and these processes highlight the adaptive strategies of communities and the mutual influences shaping religious practices and cultural identities.

Rather than emphasising conflict alone, this approach underscores the significance of everyday interactions, mutual accommodations, and the shared social spaces that facilitate peaceful coexistence, avoiding the simplistic categorisations of “clash” or “invasion”.

Ultimately, the region's unique cultural identity can be seen as a product of continuous negotiation and exchange, emphasising hybridity, intersectionality, and the fluidity of identities in historical and modern contexts.

We invite contributions from scholars with expertise in various aspects of Christian and Muslim communities in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Submissions may address diverse themes, including the historical and contemporary processes that have shaped or are shaping these communities and how they function and evolve. Key questions include the following: How were Christian and Muslim communities historically formed, and how do they function in the modern socio-political landscape of the region? What role do religion and religious identification play in shaping individual and collective identities? How do Christianity and Islam contribute to developing cultural heritage and forming regional identities in the Balkans and Eastern Europe? What external factors and influences contribute to contemporary trends in the region’s religious development? How do movements and migrations influence religious communities in the Balkans and Eastern Europe? How do local traditions interact with global religious trends, and how are these interactions reflected in contemporary religious practices? How do political, economic, and social changes affect the structure and role of religious communities? What are the mechanisms through which interfaith dialogue and cooperation are fostered, and how do they contribute to peaceful/conflict coexistence? How does religion help in the overcoming of disasters? How are gender roles and generational dynamics expressed and negotiated within religious communities?

Contributors are encouraged to engage with interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from history, anthropology, psychology, sociology, and political and religious studies, to explore how these religious traditions intersect with broader social and cultural processes. Special attention may be given to how spiritual practices and beliefs adapt to changing political contexts, social and demographic transformations, and intercultural exchanges. Further exploration of the local expressions of religious identity and the socio-cultural mechanisms that enable coexistence and dialogue will also be welcomed.

Through these inquiries, this Special Issue aims to foster a more nuanced understanding of the dynamic presence in the region of both Christianity and Islam. By highlighting both historical continuities and contemporary changes, these studies will contribute to a deeper comprehension of how religious traditions shape and are shaped by the diverse cultural landscapes of the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send this to the Guest Editors or to the Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Petko Hristov
Dr. Mila Maeva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Christianity
• Islam
• local and transnational communities
• interactions
• Balkans
• coexistences
• conflicts