Religion, media, and democracy in the Nordic countries: A scoping review of empirical research 2011–2024

This article provides an overview of empirical research at the intersection between religion, democracy, and media in the Nordic countries. Based on a scoping review of 46 studies published between January 2011 and June 2024, we identify how scholarly attention has concentrated on Islam and Muslim minorities, often in the context of mediatised conflict, securitisation, or cultural tension. The studies commonly focus on practices through which mainstream media underplays religious complexity and reproduces tensions between democratic ideals, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech. While some studies address non-institutional actors and new media platforms, these remain relatively underexplored in Nordic literature engaging in the intersection of religion, media, and democracy. This scoping review highlights gaps in current scholarship and calls for broader engagement with how religion modulates and structures democratic participation, as well as closer attention to emerging media environments and non-institutional religiosity.