H. Knippenberg

Religious subgroups influencing vaccination coverage in the Dutch Bible belt: an ecological study

BackgroundThe Netherlands has experienced epidemics of vaccine preventable diseases largely confined to the Bible belt, an area where -among others- orthodox protestant groups are living. Lacking information on the vaccination coverage in this minority, and its various subgroups, control of vaccine preventable diseases is focused on the geographical area of the Bible belt. However, the adequacy of this strategy is questionable. This study assesses the influence of presence of various orthodox protestant subgroups (orthodox protestant denominations, OPDs) on municipal vaccination coverage in the Bible belt.MethodsWe performed an ecological study at municipality level. Data on number of inhabitants, urbanization level, socio-economical status, immigration and vaccination coverage were obtained from national databases. As religion is not registered in the Netherlands, membership numbers of the OPDs had to be obtained from church year books and via church offices. For all municipalities in the Netherlands, the effect of presence or absence of OPDs on vaccination coverage was assessed by comparing mean vaccination coverage. For municipalities where OPDs were present, the effect of each of them (measured as membership ratio, the number of members proportional to total number of inhabitants) on vaccination coverage was assessed by bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis in a model containing the determinants immigration, socio-economical status and urbanization as well.ResultsMean vaccination coverage (93.5% ± 4.7) in municipalities with OPDs (n = 135) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in 297 municipalities without OPDs (96.9% ± 2.1). Multiple regression analyses showed that in municipalities with OPDs 84% of the variance in vaccination coverage was explained by the presence of these OPDs. Immigration had a significant, but small explanatory effect as well. Membership ratios of all OPDs were negatively related to vaccination coverage; this relationship was strongest for two very conservative OPDs.ConclusionAs variance in municipal vaccination coverage in the Bible belt is largely explained by membership ratios of the various OPDs, control of vaccine preventable diseases should be focused on these specific risk groups. In current policy part of the orthodox protestant risk group is missed.

The Maas-Rhine Euroregion: A Laboratory for European Integration?

The transborder and trilingual Maas–Rhine Euroregion is often presented as a laboratory for European integration. The authorities in the region promote the image of a region that has ‘always’ been a unity, but which is divided by artificial boundaries – ‘scars of history’ – as a result of power politics. In this essay this image is confronted with the reality of the cross-border interactions and identities of the people involved. This confrontation leads to the conclusion that although there is political, economic and cultural cooperation in the region, the region is not at all politically, economically and culturally integrated. The national border as a physical barrier may have been removed, but the economic, social, juridical and cultural barriers are still there. The unification and integration of the citizens living in the region is being impeded by conflicting national systems of law and regulations, by communication and information media focused on national issues, by nationally oriented infrastructure, and especially by strongly different national cultures and identities. The consequences for European integration in general are analysed by comparing this regional integration with the national integration and nation-building policies of the past.

Dutch-nation building. A struggle against the water?

In the traditional image of Dutch nation-building the struggle against the water is a central element. However, Dutch nation-building has another background. This is a relatively recent process, i.e. has developed especially during the last two centuries. In that process, the territorial integration within the boundaries of the Dutch state, which have been scarcely changed since 1839, was crucial. In this paper, first a description will be given how these boundaries came into being. Second, the integration and cultural homogenization within these boundaries will be discussed, including counter forces, such as the segmentation of Dutch society along religious lines.

State territoriality and beyond: an introduction

Discusses relationships between state territoriality, political fragmentation, cultural assimilation, and social movement; relationship among states, territoriality and indigenous people of the Sami homeland, politics of territorial identification of Anglo-Montrealers, (the Quebec problem), and European integration, territorial features, and state borders in EU; 4 articles. Sami people are an example of an indigenous people and minority faced with changes of state territoriality and assimilation, Northern Europe.

19th and 20th Century Borders and Border Regions in Europe: Some Reflections

Recent European history shows remarkably contrasting tendencies concerning the functions and densities of borders. The borders inside the European Union lost their importance, whereas Central and Eastern Europe saw the birth of a multitude of new state borders. Borders, especially state borders, always have attracted the attention of geographers and historians (see also Chapter 2). Borders separate territories and peoples from each other, define nations and frequently have been the source of international conflict and war. Separation in general leads to, or is the expression of, all kinds of differences: political, social, economic, cultural and other. However, borders do not separate completely and the function and location of borders change over time. Moreover, the function of borders can differ from one place, region or country to another (Stoddard 1991). The dynamic nature of borders suggests a historical, the local and regional differences a geographical approach.

State formation and nation-building in the Netherlands and the Soviet Union: a historical comparison

The interrelated processes of state formation and nation-building are analysed for two cases: the Netherlands (1795–1960) and the Soviet Union (1917–1989). The central question is: how did these states deal with strong cultural (religious or ethnic) cleavages in its societies. In general, there are three options: elimination marginalization, and institutionalization. In both states institutionalization was dominant, but the kind of institutionalization differed very much: ‘personalistic’ (the Netherlands) versus territorial (Soviet Union) institutionalization. The hypothesis has been put forward that, in general, institutionalization on a ‘personalistic’ basis will create more political stability.

Secularization and Transformation of Religion in Post-War Europe

Post-War Europe is the scene of two remarkable changes in religion: secularization and transformation. Secularization means the decline of traditional religion both at the societal and the individual levels. Traditional religion is transforming into new, often hybrid forms of religiosity and spirituality. The chapter begins an overview of the main theories on the subject, followed by an analysis of the huge differences among European countries, using maps and tables. Using the European Value Surveys in the 1981–2008 period I develop three dimensions of secularization at the individual level: declining religious belonging, practice (church attendance) and belief, and indicators of post-Christian spirituality. Historic processes of state formation and nation building are very important in explaining the geographical differences. While every European nation followed its own secularization path, there was a general trend of declining traditional religion in the sense of belonging, practice and belief, although the decline of belief was less strong. That decline was partially compensated by an increase in post-Christian spirituality. Secularization was stronger in Protestant than Catholic and Orthodox countries. The few Muslim countries hardly witnessed any decline of traditional religion. Secularization was less strong where religion became a major element in awakening national consciousness, such as in Poland and Ireland. Post-communist Europe followed a somewhat different path. In general the atheist policies during the communist period had a negative effect on the level of religiosity. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Orthodox nations experienced some religious recovery, but others, including former East Germany, Czechia and Estonia continued their secularization path.

The Territorial Factor

Nowadays political territoriality is profoundly put to the test by globalization, the rise of the network-society, international migration and new types of risk that state governments find hard to control. Yet, new political configurations do not invalidate the relevance of territory and territorial identity right away. Moreover, people who want to escape or forget foreign dominace still reach for the traditionally sovereign state (Eastern Europe, Asia).In this book an international group of political geographers analyse the meaning of post-modern transfromation in territoriality at different geographical scales: global, (inter) national and local. They cover such varied topics as the probability of a clash between civilizations, the rise of World-cities, the disintegration of African States, ethnic conflicts and politics in Europe, the meaning of a supranational territorial order (European Union), the end of the welfare state, nation-building and its symbols, Israeli cultural politics, urban regimes and local conflict-defense mechanisms. The perspectives put forward, match more general theoretical geography and political science and involve case studies from different parts of the World.This important new study is of immediate interest to students of all levels of politcial science, sociology, social geography, administrative science, international relations, contermpoary history, and to policy makers and politicians.