Tolerance and Belonging: A study about tolerance, its socio-political dynamics as visible in media discourse, and its impact on Reformed Christians’ identification with ‘the’ national identity of the Netherlands.

Koehoorn, Rachel Tolerance and Belonging: A study about tolerance, its socio-political dynamics as visible in media discourse, and its impact on Reformed Christians’ identification with ‘the’ national identity of the Netherlands. Master thesis, Master Religion Conflict and Globalisation.

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Abstract

Over the last years, especially in the context of COVID-19, the involvement of Reformed Christians in the socio-political dynamics of tolerance has become increasingly visible. However, whereas tolerance has gained increasing attention in research, little is known about how tolerance influences this specific minority's identification with the Netherlands. This study aims to determine the relationship between tolerance and feelings of belonging. Specifically, it investigates the nature and socio-political dynamics of tolerance and its influence on a tolerated minority's sense of belonging to the mainstream national identity of the Netherlands. In this context, tolerance is approached as a minimalistic, weak principle, referring to a voluntary attitude of self-limitation towards practices that one has the possibility not to tolerate. To explore this, I have conducted an integrative review to define the nature of tolerance. After that, I have performed a discourse analysis to identify the socio-political dynamics of tolerance present in the public view of Reformed Christians in the context of crisis. Finally, I held in-depth interviews to analyse the lived experiences of belonging to a tolerated minority. The results showed that the nature of tolerance contains unequal, hierarchical, conditional, devaluing and excluding aspects, which are reflected in its socio-political dynamics. Furthermore, the interviews showed that feelings of belonging to the mainstream identity of the Netherlands are positively as well as negatively influenced by tolerance. This finding reflects the inherent complexity of the concept.

Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisors (RUG):	Supervisor E-mail Tutor organization Tutor email Martinez-Arino, J. Faculteit GGW, Vergelijkende Religiewetenschap J.Martinez.Arino@rug.nl Tarusarira, J. Faculteit GGW, Religiewetenschap J.Tarusarira@rug.nl
Degree programme:	Master Religion Conflict and Globalisation
Academic year:	2021-2022
Date of delivery:	14 Oct 2022 08:19
Last modified:	14 Oct 2022 08:19
URI:	https://ggw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/692

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