30.09.2022

New publication: "Politik – Religion – Kommunikation. Die schmalkaldischen Bundestage als politische Gesprächsplattform" edited by Jan Martin Lies and Stefan Michel

Edited by IEG stuff member Jan Martin Lies and Stefan Michel, the volume "Politik – Religion – Kommunikation. Die schmalkaldischen Bundestage als politische Gesprächsplattform" (Politics - Religion - Communication. The Schmalkaldic Bundestag as a political discussion platform) has been published by Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht in the series "Publications of the Institute of European History Mainz". The title is accessible via open access publication in the V&R eLibrary.

This volume focuses on the problems of the inseparability of politics, religion and law that have always existed and were triggered by the Reformation's dispute over faith. Because the Reformation questioned previously recognised theological authorities and truths, rule and political action had to be justified theologically in a new or different way. The federal congresses of the Schmalkaldic League therefore became an extremely important political discussion platform in a time of political reorientation. On the one hand, this applies to an external perspective, in which the significance of the Bundestag as a possibility for initiating or carrying out empire-wide, sometimes even European, negotiation processes and strategic discussions requires analysis. On the other hand, from an internal perspective, the Bundestag sessions must be examined as places of strategic discussions between the members of the Bund.