Tracking Religious Freedom Violations with the Violent Incidents Database: A Methodological Approach and Comparative Analysis

Dennis P. Petri (), Kyle J. Wisdom and John T. Bainbridge
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Dennis P. Petri: Faculty of Social Sciences, Latin American University of Science and Technology, Barrio Tournón, San José 10802, Costa Rica
Kyle J. Wisdom: International Institute for Religious Freedom, Orlando, FL 32878-0068, USA
John T. Bainbridge: International Institute for Religious Freedom, Orlando, FL 32878-0068, USA

Data, 2025, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: Measuring and comparing religious freedom across countries and over time requires reliable and valid data sources. Existing religious freedom datasets are either based on the coding of qualitative data (such as the Religion and State Project or the Pew Research Center), on expert opinions (V-Dem or the World Watch List) or on surveys (Anti-Defamation League). Each of these approaches has its strengths and limitations. In this study, we present the Violent Incidents Database (VID), a complementary tool designed to collect, record, and analyze violent incidents related to violations of religious freedom based on media reports and other public sources. We critically describe the criteria and process for selecting, coding and verifying the incidents, as well as the categories and indicators used to classify them. We also compare the VID with other existing religious freedom datasets and show how the VID provides a complementary picture of the nature and dynamics of religious freedom violations. We offer a preliminary analysis of the data collected through the end of 2024 with selected figures for data visualization. We conclude by discussing anticipated improvements for the VID as well as its potential applications for policy makers, advocates, and practitioners.

Keywords: religious freedom measurement; Violent Incidents Database (VID); data collection and verification; comparative religious freedom datasets; policy and advocacy applications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C8 C80 C81 C82 C83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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