Churches and the consolidation of democratic culture: Difference and convergence in the Czech Republic and Hungary

How do religious institutions cope with the realities of democratization? This article explores the question through an examination of the relationship between the state, political parties and the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic and Hungary. It examines the extent to which the churches have accepted and internalized democratic values, have pursued their agenda by democratic means, and have contributed to the development of civil society and a tolerant political culture. The study identifies similarities but also significant and unexplored differences in the churches' efforts to accommodate to the new pluralist regimes.