Synopses & Reviews
The main rationale for this book is that there are many people who still do not believe a book like this one needs to be written. This book is about the global resurgence of culture and religion in international relations, and how these social changes are transforming our understanding of IR theory, and some of the key policy-related issue areas in world politics. It is evident in the on-going debates over the 'root causes' of the tragic events of 11 September 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, this book presents an argument for taking culture - and, particularly, religion - as social forces that are important for understanding world politics in the post-Westphalian era. The scope of this book is broader than religious extremism or fundamentalism because of the importance of the second aspect of the global resurgence of religion: it is occurring not only in countries with different cultures and religions, but also in countries with different levels of economic development. If this is the case, then the global resurgence of religion can not be explained away as a reactionary protest against modernization, nor as a feature of world poverty caused by globalization. Instead, it should be interpreted as a part of a cultural, more wide-ranging, crisis of modernity in both the Western industrialized countries and in the developing world.
Review
"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
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
The current global resurgence of religion is more wide ranging than a clash of civilizations driven by religious extremism, terrorism, or fundamentalism. This global cultural and religious shift is challenging our interpretation of the modern world--what it means to be modern--as a variety of social and religious groups struggle to find alternative paths to modernity. This book examines what this means for the key concepts and theories of international relations--international conflict and cooperation, diplomacy, the promotion of civil society, democracy, nation-building, and economic development-and how it is transforming them. The book serves as a guide for what it means to take cultural and religious pluralism seriously in the twenty-first century.
About the Author
Scott M. Thomas is a lecturer in international relations and the politics of developing countries in the Department of Economics and International Development in the University of Bath, England. He is the author of
The Diplomacy of Liberation (1995) and has published chapters on religion and international relations in over ten books and in various journals, including
Millennium, International Affairs, and the
SAIS Review.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Global Resurgence of Religion in International Relations *
Part One: Bringing Culture and Religion Back into International Relations Theory * "The Revenge of God: the Twentieth Century as the "Last Modern Century" * Blind Spots and Blowback: Why Culture and Religion were Marginalized in the Theory of International Relations * In the Eye of the Storm: Explaining and Understanding Culture and Religion in International Relations * The Soul of the World? Religious Non-State Actors and International Relations Theory *
Part Two: The Main Arenas of International Relations * Wars and Rumors of Wars? Religion and International Conflict * "A Just and Durable Peace": Rethinking Religion and International Cooperation * Soulcraft as Statecraft?: Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding * Funding Virtue? Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, and Democracy Promotion * Where Faith and Economics Meet? Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, and International Development *
Conclusion: How Shall We Then Live