Islamic Religious Education and Citizenship Education: An Empirical Study of Teachers’ Perspectives in Austria

Abstract

Research into Citizenship Education has become increasingly important in recent years. It deals with the promotion of social cohesion, democracy and human rights. This article examines the interfaces between Citizenship Education and Religious Education, particularly from the perspective of Islamic religious teachers in Austria. The empirical basis is a qualitative study conducted as part of the author’s dissertation, which includes group discussions with 41 Islamic Religious Education teachers. The results were analyzed using the documentary method. The analysis focuses on two key aspects: first, the role of Islamic Religious Education in supporting the integration, participation and identity formation of young people, and second, challenges of Religious Education in a social context.