The State as a Protector of Traditional Religious Groups: the Case of the Slovak Republic

Tížik, Miroslav (2025) The State as a Protector of Traditional Religious Groups: the Case of the Slovak Republic. HURBÁN: EGYÜTTÉLÉS ÖSSZEOMLÁS ÚJRAKEZDÉS, 3 (2). pp. 90-104. ISSN 3004-023X

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Abstract

The study analyses the evolution of relations between the Slovak state and religious institutions from the late 20th century to the present, focusing on the formation of a distinct “religious field” during the post‑socialist transformation. The author demonstrates how state policy gradually shifted towards a model privileging traditional religious actors, particularly the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. Although post‑1989 legislation formally guaranteed religious freedom, strict registration requirements and the historically privileged status of certain churches significantly limited the emergence of new religious communities. The study also examines how, from the 2000s onwards, treaty‑based cooperation and state financing mechanisms created an asymmetric system in which the Catholic Church became the principal normative authority. Ultimately, the Slovak model appears oriented more toward restricting than fostering genuine religious pluralism.

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