The Role of Religion in Paradiplomacy: A Comparison of Bavaria and Saxony

This bachelor thesis explores the phenomenon of paradiplomacy. The character, scope, and intensity of paradiplomacy are influenced by a wide range of factors, including political, legal, economic, geographical, and cultural factors. The author of this thesis focuses on the factor of religion, which has not yet been sufficiently explored in connection with paradiplomacy, thus identifying a gap in knowledge. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between religion and paradiplomacy. To achieve this, the research question posed is: "Which areas of paradiplomacy are influenced by religion, and to what extent do different religious traditions of individual regions play a role?" A case study was chosen comparing two regions with different religions within one state: Bavaria and Saxony in Germany. To achieve variability between the cases, regions with differing religious traditions were intentionally selected. The analysis will be based on speeches by members of ruling parties and members of state governments, delivered in state parliaments and on other public occasions between 2014 and 2025, to identify the areas of paradiplomacy in which religion is mentioned. The methodological part will utilize content analysis with the Taguette tool (specifically open coding). Through this approach, the study will identify in which areas and to what extent religion serves as a factor in paradiplomacy.