The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century

by S. Thomas

Overview

This book is about the global resurgence of culture and religion in international relations, and how these social changes are transforming our understanding of International Relation theory, and the key policy-related issue areas in world politics. It is evident in the on-going debates over the 'root causes' of 9/11 that there are many scholars, journalists and members of the public who still believe culture and religion can be explained away by appeals to more 'basic' economic, social or political forces in society. Therefore The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations presents an argument for taking culture - and particularly religion - as social forces that are important for understanding world politics in the post-Westphalian era.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403961570
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	10/03/2005
Series:	Culture and Religion in International Relations
Edition description:	2005
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

SCOTT THOMAS is Senior Lecturer in International Relations and the Politics of Developing Countries, University of Bath, UK. Thomas is the author of the Diplomacy of Liberation: the ANC's Foreign Relations Since 1960 (IB Taurus, 1996) and has published several chapters in edited volumes.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Global Resurgence of Religion in International Relations PART ONE: BRINGING CULTURE AND RELIGION BACK INTO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY Explaining and Understanding Culture and Religion in International Relations Culture and Religion and the Construction of International Society Religion and International Conflict Culture and Religion and Foreign Policy Religious Actors, Social Movements and International Relations Theory Why 'Anarchy is What States Make of it': Mimetic Rivalry and the Social Construction of International Society PART TWO: ISSUE AREAS Protestantism and Hegemonic Stability?: Culture and Religion in the Construction of the Postwar International Order 'What is Europe?': The Role of Culture and Religion and in European Integration Global Social Policy Becomes Foreign Policy: Culture and Religion and the United Nations The Return of the Goddess?: Culture and Religion and Global Environmental Policy Faith and Foreign Policy?: Religion and Civil Society Aid to Promote Democracy and Development The Global Rise of Religious Violence: Is Terror in the Mind of God? How Many Divisions Does the Pope Have?: Culture and Religion in the End of the Cold War PART THREE: CULTURE, RELIGION AND INTERNATIONAL ETHICS Religious Perspectives and Competing Paradigms of International Relations How Can the 'Dialogue Between Civilisations' Begin?: Religious Resources for International Order Conclusion: Taking Culture and Religion Seriously in International Relations

Recipe

"Here undoubtedly is a book that is both helpful and insightful for those of us who feel there has got to be a better way to promote global security and global welfare,"
--from the foreword by Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel
Peace Laureate

"Scott Thomas' work should be read not only by scholars interested in international relations and development, but also by leaders in civil society - in the NGO's, in the corporations, and in the churches. We neglect religious factors in contemporary history to our great peril. One may quibble with his treatment of certain theorists of "modernity," but he sees key global trends clearly, and argues artfully for policies could correct today's intellectual and moral blinders."
--Max L. Stackhouse, Rimmer and Ruth DeVries Professor of Theology and Public Life, Princeton Theological Seminary, Author/editor of the series, God and Globalization

"Post Cold War and post 9/11 politics have witnessed the global resurgence of religion, nationalism and ethnic identity and underscored the failure of international relations theory to anticipate and adequately address the role of religion and culture. Scott Thomas' The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations is a powerful corrective, demonstrating how and why religion and culture are significant forces world politics that have transformed our understanding of IR theory."
--John L. Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University and author of Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam

"The Global Resurgence of Religion is a vital topic on which mainstream international relations research has been oddly silent. Inclear and measured prose Scott Thomas explicates the reason for our intellectual failures and develops an original, eclectic perspective that gives new relevance to the constructivist turn in international relations theory. More importantly, Thomas succeeds in illustrating empirically how and why religion matters in world politics. For those interested in regaining their voice on a crucial topic in world politics this book is essential reading."
--Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter Professor, Jr. of International Studies, Cornell University

"To the surprise of most academics and many politicians, religion has become one of the most dynamic forces in 21st century world politics. Scott Thomas's insightful analysis of this phenomenon fills a gaping hole in international relations theory and should help policy-makers and thoughtful citizens alike think more clearly about the ways in which profound religious and moral convictions can help build a measure of order in world affairs."
--George Weigel, Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Editorial Reviews

Here undoubtedly is a book that is both helpful and insightful for those of us who feel there has got to be a better way to promote global security and global welfare' - from the foreword by Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel

Peace Laureate

'Scott Thomas' work should be read not only by scholars interested in international relations and development, but also by leaders in civil society - in the NGO's, in the corporations, and in the churches. We neglect religious factors in contemporary history to our great peril. One may quibble with his treatment of certain theorists of "modernity," but he sees key global trends clearly, and argues artfully for policies could correct today's intellectual and moral blinders.' - Max L. Stackhouse, Rimmer and Ruth DeVries Professor of Theology and Public Life, Princeton Theological Seminary, Author/editor of the series, God and Globalization

'Post Cold War and post 9/11 politics have witnessed the global resurgence of religion, nationalism and ethnic identity and underscored the failure of international relations theory to anticipate and adequately address the role of religion and culture. Scott Thomas' The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations is a powerful corrective, demonstrating how and why religion and culture are significant forces world politics that have transformed our understanding of IR theory.' -John L. Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University and author of Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam

'The Global Resurgence of Religion is a vital topic on which mainstream international relations research has been oddly silent. In clear and measured prose Scott Thomas explicates the reason for our intellectual failures and develops an original, eclectic perspective that gives new relevance to the constructivist turn in international relations theory. More importantly, Thomas succeeds in illustrating empirically how and why religion matters in world politics. For those interested in regaining their voice on a crucial topic in world politics this book is essential reading.' -Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter Professor, Jr. of International Studies, Cornell University

'To the surprise of most academics and many politicians, religion has become one of the most dynamic forces in 21st century world politics. Scott Thomas's insightful analysis of this phenomenon fills a gaping hole in international relations theory and should help policy-makers and thoughtful citizens alike think more clearly about the ways in which profound religious and moral convictions can help build a measure of order in world affairs.' -George Weigel, Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

From the Publisher

The global resurgence of religion has been widely noted, and this book provides a thoughtful reflection on its implications for Western ideas about modernity and international relations. The conventional view is that the upsurge in fundamentalism, particularly in the Middle East, reflects a stalled transition to modernity, giving militants an ideological kinship with previous antiliberal and antimodernist movements. Thomas, in contrast, asserts that the revival of religion — including among evangelicals and fundamentalist Christians in the developed world — is part of a more wide-ranging global phenomenon that represents a crisis of modernity itself. The grand narrative of Western progress is under challenge, and a search for "authenticity" is underway inside and outside the West, with communities of the faithful seeking to refashion political life in line with moral and religious values. This provocative claim is never convincingly established, but Thomas' more general point is well taken: Western scholars and policymakers need to rethink how the potent mix of religion, nationalism, and globalization is wreaking havoc on old traditions of diplomacy, development, and Western hegemony and transforming international affairs in the process.

Foreign Affairs