Participation in the Cluster of Excellence
- Member of the Graduate School
- Field of research A Transcultural entanglement and disentanglemen
- Theory platforms differentiation, Inequality and Conflict
Carolin Hillenbrand, M.A.
Research Foci
- Politics and Religion
- Religion and Sustainable Development
- Research on societal / social cohesion, social capital
- Sociology of religion, empirical research on religion
- Empirical methods, statistical regression & multi-level analysis, survey research
- Mixed Methods
- International relations, development policy, Global South
- Peace and Conflict Studies, Transitional Justice, religion and conflict/peace
- Religion and Conspiracy Theories
Doctoral AbstractThesis
Religion, a bridge or barrier? The role of religion in social cohesion from an empirical cross-country perspective
- Supervisor
- Prof. Dr. Detlef Pollack
- Doctoral Subject
- Soziologie
- Targeted Doctoral Degree
- Dr. phil.
- Awarded by
- Department 06 – Education and Social Studies
The timeless question of what holds the world, a society together, is particularly urgent in the face of current challenges such as polarization, civil wars, and state collapse. While the factor "religion" is increasingly perceived in the social sciences, there is still a need for research on the empirical analysis of different aspects of religion with regard to the cohesion of countries in a global comparative perspective. Thus, I examine the role of religion for the social cohesion of states worldwide in a multi-level empirical analysis. For that, "social cohesion" is understood as a multidimensional construct that manifests itself in socio-political relations between citizen-citizen (horizontal level) and citizen-state (vertical level). Core dimensions are social/institutional trust, inclusive social/national identification, social/institutional responsibility and social/political engagement. "Religion" is conceptualized at the individual level with the dimensions believing (intensity/content of faith), behaving (private/social religious practice) and belonging (religious affiliation). At the macro level, religious vitality, religious diversity and state-religion relations are examined. For empirically measuring these dimensions, I use data from international surveys (e.g. World Values Survey, International Social Survey Programme) and databases (e.g. World Bank, Pew Research Center, State and Religion Project by J. Fox). The results of my thesis shall make both a scientific and socio-political contribution to a highly topical field.CV
Academic Education
- Master of Arts in Political Science (major) and "Christianity & Culture" (minor) at the Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (major) and Catholic Theologie (minor) at the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz
- Semester abroad at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
Positions
- Cooperation with the "German Development Institute" (DIE) for the Master Thesis, Bonn
- Research Assistant at the Chair of International Relations at the Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg
- Research Associate for the Bachelor Thesis at the "German Corporation for International Cooperation" (GIZ), Eschborn
- International internship at the NGO "Masifunde Learner Development", Port Elizbaeth (South Africa)
- International internship at the GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation) in Lima (Peru)
Honors
- Doctoral scholarship – Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
- Promotionsstipendium – Bischöfliche Studienförderung Cusanuswerk
- Exposé-Stipendium – Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
- Jahrgangsbester Abschluß in the category Master – Institut für Politische Wissenschaft, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg
- Career promotion program for women – Begabtenförderungswerke in Deutschland
- PROMOS Stipendium – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
- Scholarship for studies, talent promotion program – Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
- Scholarhip for studies, talent promotion program – Cusanuswerk
- Award for the best degree at the Institute for Political Science – Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz
External Function
Publications
Books (Monographs)
- Hillenbrand, Carolin, and Pollack, Detlef. . Religionsmonitor, Religion als Ressource der Krisenbewältigung? Analysen am Beispiel der Coronapandemie., Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung. doi: 10.11586/2023013.
Articles
Research Articles (Journals)
- Hillenbrand, Carolin, and Pollack, Detlef. . “Carolin Hillenbrand, Detlef Pollack: Religiosity, Spirituality and Conspiracy Theories: Empirical-Quantitative Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany, in: German Politics and Society 41 2023, 128–148.” German Politics and Society, № 41: 128–148. doi: 10.3167/gps.2023.410207.
- Hillenbrand, Carolin. . “Social Cohesion and Religiosity – Empirical Results from an Online Survey in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Religion & Development, № 2: 213–260. doi: 10.30965/27507955-20230003.
- Hillenbrand, Carolin. . “Religion als Treiber oder Bremse für Bedrohungsgefühle? Eine empirische Analyse der Zusammenhänge zwischen Religion und migrationsbezogenen Bedrohungsgefühlen in Deutschland.” Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik, № 4 (1): 45–79. doi: 10.1007/s41682-020-00057-7.
Research Article (Book Contributions)
- Hillenbrand, Carolin, and Pollack, Detlef. . “Zusammenhänge zwischen Religiosität, Verschwörungsglauben und Wissenschaftsvertrauen während der Corona-Pandemie in Deutschland.” in Dokumente zum kirchlichen Zeitgeschehen: Kirchliches Jahrbuch 2020, edited by Horst Gorski, Klaus-Dieter Kaiser, Claudia Lepp and Harry Oelke. Güterloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus.
- Pollack, Detlef, and Hillenbrand, Carolin. . “Umkämpftes Vertrauen: Zur Rolle von Religion, Verschwörungstheorien und Wissenschaft in der Corona-Krise.” in Zwischen Gottesstrafe und Verschwörungstheorien: Deutungskonkurrenzen bei Epidemien von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart., edited by Marcel Bubert and André Krischer. Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag.
- Hillenbrand, Carolin. . “Religion, a bridge or barrier in society? A research design for empirical analyses about the role of religiosity in social cohesion.” in Religiosity in East and West. Conceptual and Methodological Challenges from Global and Local Perspectives, Veröffentlichungen der Sektion Religionssoziologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie, edited by Demmrich, Sarah Riegel and Ulrich. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-31035-6.
Working Papers
- Yendell, Alexander, Hidalgo, Oliver, Hillenbrand, and Carolin. . “The Role of Religious Actors in the COVID-19 Pandemic: a theory-based empirical analysis with policy recommendations for action.” ifa Edition Culture and Foreign Policy. N/A: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag. doi: 10.17901/akbp1.10.2021.
- Yendell, Alexander, Hidalgo, Oliver, Hillenbrand, and Carolin. . “Die Rolle von religiösen Akteuren in der COVID-19-Pandemie: Eine theoriegeleitete empirische Analyse mit politischen Handlungsempfehlungen.” ifa-Edition Kultur und Außenpolitik. N/A: Selbstverlag / Eigenverlag. doi: 10.17901/akbp1.09.2021.
Scientific Talks
- Hillenbrand, Carolin : “Does religion immunize against or stimulate conspiracy beliefs? The role of religiosity in conspiracy theories in the context of the Covid19 pandemic in Germany”. IV ISA Forum of Sociology, Online, .
- Carolin Hillenbrand & Alexander Yendell : „You can't serve God and the conspiracy - Relationships between religiosity and conspiracy mentality during the Corona Pandemic“. Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises quantitative Religionsforschung 2021 „Religion und Migration“ , Digital, .
- Hillenbrand, Carolin : “Religion: a curse or blessing for the socio-ecological transformation? A research design for global cross-country analyses of the role of religion in ecological attitudes and behaviors”. 40. DGS Kongress "Gesellschaft unter Spannung", Digital, .
- Hillenbrand, Carolin : “The role of citizens’ religion for the cohesion of societies from a global comparative perspective”. ECPR General Conference - Section "Religion and Politics Across Boundaries", Virtual, .
- Carolin Hillenbrand : „Religion as bridge or barrier? A cross-country multi-level analysis on the role of religion in the social cohesion of staties with varying level of democracy“. Sicherheit, Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft - Theorien und Problemfelder internationaler Politik - 14. IB-Nachwuchstagung Internationale Politik, Akademie für Politische Bildung Tutzing, .
- Carolin Hillenbrand : „Religion, contact and xenophobic attitudes in Germany“. Religion & Vorurteil , Universität Leipzig, .
- Carolin Hillenbrand : “Citizen’s Religiosity and the Cohesion of Society”. Conference "Religiosity in East and West – Conceptual and Methodological Challenges", Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, .