Religiosity and Nationalism on the Croatian Periphery – the Broad Scenario for Small Communities

An effort is made in the text to evaluate the practical applicability of current theoretical paradigms in the sociology of religion at the level of local communities in Croatian society. The basic point of departure of the text is the thesis that none of the more recent theories of religiosity can claim without difficulties to be universally valid, not even at the level of any particular society (Croatian, in this case). Empirical research into religiosity in three Croatian regions (Gorski Kotar, Istria ands Lika) called attention to the significant diversities in the dissemination, structure and importance of religiosity. These differences can be explained by taking into consideration the uneven intensity of modernisation processes, historical factors shaping specific cultural matrices and the (non)existence of inter-ethnic conflict. The results suggest that only the Istrian case can be partially explained from the modernisation perspective. Despite the anticipated similarity in the religiosity of Gorski Kotor and Lika, there are still considerable differences, primarily in connection with religiosity and political orientation