by JackSnyder (Author)
Religious concerns stand at the center of international politics, yet key paradigms in international relations, namely realism, liberalism, and constructivism, barely consider religion in their analysis of political subjects. The essays in this collection rectify this. Authored by leading scholars, they introduce models that integrate religion into the study of international politics and connect religion to a rising form of populist politics in the developing world. Contributors identify religion as pervasive and distinctive, forcing a reframing of international relations theory that reinterprets traditional paradigms. One essay draws on both realism and constructivism in the examination of religious discourse and transnational networks. Another positions secularism not as the opposite of religion but as a comparable type of worldview drawing on and competing with religious ideas. With the secular state's perceived failure to address popular needs, religion has become a banner for movements that demand a more responsive government. The contributors to this volume recognize this trend and propose structural and theoretical innovations for future advances in the discipline.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 232
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 03 May 2011
ISBN 10: 0231153392
ISBN 13: 9780231153393
Book Overview: This book will become essential reading for anyone studying the importance of religion in international relations. Indeed, it will be relevant for anyone who wishes to understand key dynamics in international affairs more broadly. -- Hendrik Spruyt, Director of the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies, Northwestern University