The institutionalization of religious minorities in Spain: the recognition of the Bahá’í community’s Notorio Arraigo

On 18 September 2023, the Spanish State recognised the Notorio Arraigo (firmly established, or literally, notorious deep rootedness) of the Bahá’í Community of Spain through a Ministerial Order, integrating it into the group of recognised religious denominations, albeit without any signed cooperatio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Salguero Montaño, Óscar
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/124939
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/124939
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:39:2
342.731
316.022.4:2-67(46)
323.15:2-67(46)
Bahá’í Faith
Notorio Arraigo
religious diversity
religious freedom
institutionalization
anthropology of religion
Antropología (Sociología)
Religión (Sociología)
Religiones no cristianas
Historia de las religiones (Historia)
5103 Antropología Social
5101.10 Religión
6301.10 Sociología de la Religión
5906.05 Religión
5506.21 Historia de las Religiones
Descripción
Sumario:On 18 September 2023, the Spanish State recognised the Notorio Arraigo (firmly established, or literally, notorious deep rootedness) of the Bahá’í Community of Spain through a Ministerial Order, integrating it into the group of recognised religious denominations, albeit without any signed cooperation agreements. This milestone reflects the evolving legal–political frameworks of religious freedom since the arrival of the Bahá’í Faith in Spain in the mid-20th century, as well as the strategies employed to consolidate and institutionalise itself as a religious denomination, influenced by Bahá’í principles. This paper examines how these principles have inspired the Community’s secular strategies throughout different historical phases: from a restrictive Catholic confessional framework to the current non-confessional state, which guarantees religious freedom. It also analyses the actions undertaken to obtain recognition of Notorio Arraigo and considers the challenges and needs faced by the Bahá’í Community at this new level of recognition.