Freedom of Belief and Right to Information

ended

FreeBeRI is aiming at enhancing Eu studies in the curriculum of the master's degree in political sciences and introducing them for the first time with a compulsory course in the curriculum of the bachelor's degree in communication sciences at Link Campus University. Its added value lies in the fact that, in an innovative way, it will develop the crosscutting potential of EU studies by showing their relevance in the fields of religious studies. Its main focus is on the mutual reliance between freedom of religion and freedom of expression and information by treating as deeply intertwined two topics: EU policies on misinformation and disinformation, with peculiar reference to the links between religion and conspiracy theories; EU international policies on the subject of promotion and protection of freedom of religion, by contextualizing them within the historical global process of de-secularization. FreeBeRI enhances critical thinking skills as fundamental tools of active European citizenship. Indeed, its teaching method is based on the analysis, contextualization and interpretation of different types of sources and, in so doing, it teaches the fundamentals of “the historian’s craft” as tools for recognizing, analyzing and debunking conspiracy theories as well as understanding the reasons for their success. FreeBeRI carries out a series of research and dissemination activities in which students collaborate with key actors of the construction of the European Research Area in the field of religious studies. Actors that not only ensure the high quality of the research and teaching activities, but also provide FreeBeRI with an international research network and assure its impact on other European education and research institutions. FreeBeRI effectively promotes a dialogue between the academic world and society thanks to seminars and workshops designed for high school students and the media partnership with Cesue-Euractiv.