Verzuiling en ontzuiling van de katholieken in België en Nederland. Een historisch-sociologische vergelijking

Samenvatting

Although the Belgian Catholics started from a majority position, while the Dutch Catholics emerged slowly from marginalization, a vigorous Catholic movement with a centralized church & an intensive mobilization of the rank & file developed in both countries. Out of this religious revival movement, a network of mass organizations in different domains (church, party, unions, sick funds) emerged around the turn of the twentieth century -- the so-called "Catholic pillars." Given the convergence of the former developments in both countries, the divergence since the 1960s is striking: the Catholic pillar disappeared in the Netherlands, while it lasted in Belgium. This is hypothesized to be the result of the continuing bipolar confrontation between the Catholic & socialist pillars in Belgium & the more advanced organizational development & integration of the Belgian pillar organizations. 1 Figure, 40 References. Modified HA