The Christian Europe debate: A conservative-led agenda, not a far-right crusade

This article examines how Christianity became a central element in the construction of European identity, challenging the prevailing assumption that far-right populist movements were the primary agents of this shift. Drawing on post-structuralist scholarship and critical discourse analysis, this study argues that religious identity was actively mobilised by mainstream centre-right and conservative political forces, particularly in France and Germany, in collaboration with the Catholic Church. The analysis focuses on a critical historical juncture: Turkey’s EU accession process. While the 2004 enlargement brought a renewed emphasis on Christian traditions within the European Union, this article contends that the crystallisation of Christianity as a defining feature of European identity gained momentum in response to Turkey’s candidacy. The study demonstrates how key political figures – including Pope Benedict XVI, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel – framed European identity through an explicitly Christian lens. This discourse, initially promoted by centrist governments, was subsequently appropriated and radicalised by far-right movements. By analysing speeches and media discourse, this article uncovers the discursive strategies used to legitimise Christianity as an essential marker of European belonging while simultaneously excluding non-Christian populations, particularly Muslims. The findings challenge the conventional narrative that religious identity in Europe was reintroduced solely by nationalist forces, illustrating instead how mainstream political actors played a pivotal role in shaping exclusionary frameworks. This article contributes to the broader debate on European identity formation by demonstrating how religion was strategically employed as a boundary-making tool. It underscores the enduring impact of these discourses, highlighting their influence on contemporary political debates on migration, multiculturalism and EU integration.