Religion as Securitization in Central and Eastern Europe. Edited by András Máté-Tóth and Kinga Povedák.

a group (whether national, ethnic, or religious) that is rmly entrenched in the region's historical memory.is sense of belonging is deeply rooted in the collective trauma and narratives transmitted across generations.e authors further explore other pivotal concepts, including collective memory, historical narratives, and group identity, drawing upon the principles of narrative psychology.However, the authors from diverse academic backgrounds appear to interpret these key concepts di erently.e volume would have bene ted from greater transdisciplinarity, with research ndings being more intertwined.is would have required a speci c methodology.Notwithstanding this, the work presents signi cant ndings and de nitions.e volume addresses the functions of victimization, both in its inclusive and exclusive forms.It also explores hostile attitudes towards external groups.While these concepts have been explored in other works, this volume is noteworthy for its focus on an Eastern European regional context.Furthermore, the text explores the relationship between securitization and collective victimization.e authors employ a range of historical analogies, contextualizing them within contemporary events.ey conclude from both historical examples and current experience that fear of re-victimization can lead groups to support preventive violence or aggressive policies.Religion is central to the volume and individual studies, as they observe how religion is instrumentalized.e analysis examines how political actors utilize religious concepts, symbols, and narratives.ese include the 'sectarian threat, ' the 'Islamic threat, ' the 'LGBTQ+ threat, ' and 'imported holidays' .Furthermore, certain political actors invoke religion as a basis for legitimacy, claiming to defend security and tradition.In some cases, however, religious leaders come close to identifying threats to broader society, o en in collaboration with political actors.In this context, religious and political actors present themselves as defenders.