21.3.2025

Doctoral thesis on the impact of modernization on religiosity among young adult Druze and Muslim university students in Israel

M.A. Sawsan Kheir’s doctoral thesis in Study of Religions will be put forth for public defence at the Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology at Åbo Akademi University.

The thesis is entitled Negotiating modernization: A study of religiosities among Druze and Muslim students in Israel.

The public defence of the doctoral thesis takes place on Saturday 29 March 2025 at 1PM in Auditorium Armfelt, Arken, Tehtaankatu 2, Turku. Professor Hisham Abu-Raiya, Tel Aviv University, Israel, will serve as opponent and Professor Peter Nynäs, Åbo Akademi University, as custos.

Summary

In today’s rapidly globalizing world, religious minorities face unique challenges in maintaining their traditions while adapting to modernization.

This dissertation examines the impact of modernization on religiosity among young adult Druze and Muslim university students in Israel, contributing to our understanding of how religious minorities navigate secularization and technological development. Situated within Israel’s complex multicultural landscape, where religious minorities face distinct challenges in maintaining their traditions, the research provides crucial insights into the dynamic relationship between religious identity and modern life.

Through five peer-reviewed articles, drawing on data from the Centre of Excellence in Research, Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective (YARG), the study employs a mixed-methods approach to analyze how these minority groups engage with both traditional religious practices and modern social structures. The research examines the interplay between religious identity, family ties, and digital engagement, offering new theoretical perspectives on religious adaptation in contemporary societies.

The findings challenge conventional secularization theories by demonstrating how modernization reshapes rather than erodes religious expression among minorities. The research has significant implications for understanding religious transformation in multicultural contexts and offers valuable insights for future comparative studies in an increasingly globalized world.

Sawsan Kheir was born in 1983 in Israel. She can be reached by phone +972 54 442 1814 or email khsawsan@gmail.com.

The doctoral thesis can be read online through the Doria publication archive.

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