Synopses & Reviews
"This is an indispensable book in helping us understand the new world disorder that seems to be overtaking us. Juergensmeyer points out that much of the world neither understands nor finds attractive the idea of a 'secular state.' He helps us see that religious nationalism is a fact of life that will be with us for a long time to come. Deconstructing any simple notion of 'fundamentalism,' he shows us how it is possible to live with religious nationalism constructively without demonizing it. That is a major achievement."Robert Bellah, coauthor of
Habits of the HeartFor years, Mark Juergensmeyer has served as a kind of Cassandra figure, warning us all about the rise of religious violence, the global reach of religious nationalism, and the challenges posed by new religious identities to the secular nation-state. Now that the world is finally listening, Juergensmeyer remains our best guide in unraveling the complex interplay between religion and politics in the modern world. Global Rebellion once again demonstrates why Juergensmeyer is the foremost authority on the global sociology of religion. This is an awe-inspiring work by arguably the most important thinker on the subject. Reza Aslan, author of No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
Review
“[An] insightful and ambitious new book.”
Synopsis
Why has the turn of the twenty-first century been rocked by a new religious rebellion? From al Qaeda to Christian militias to insurgents in Iraq, a strident new religious activism has seized the imaginations of political rebels around the world. Building on his groundbreaking book, The New Cold War?: Religious Nationalism Confronts the Secular State, Mark Juergensmeyer here provides an up-to-date road map through this complex new religious terrain. Basing his discussion on interviews with militant activists and case studies of rebellious movements, Juergensmeyer puts a human face on conflicts that have become increasingly abstract. He revises our notions of religious revolution and offers positive proposals for responding to religious activism in ways that will diminish the violence and lead to an accommodation between radical religion and the secular world.
Synopsis
In this accessible text, Mark Juergensmeyer, a pioneer in global studies, provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging field of global studies from regional, topical, and theoretical perspectives. Each of the twenty compact chapters in
Thinking Globally features Juergensmeyers own lucid introduction to the key topics and offers brief excerpts from major writers in those areas. The chapters explore the history of globalization in each region of the world, from Africa and the Middle East to Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and cover key issues in today's global era, such as:
Challenges of the global economy
Fading of the nation-state
Emerging nationalisms and transnational ideologies
Hidden economies of sex trafficking and the illegal drug trade
New communications media
Environmental crises
Human rights abuses
Thinking Globally is the perfect introduction to global studies for students, and an exceptional resource for anyone interested in learning more about this new area of study.
Synopsis
"This comprehensive reader expertly assembles pivotal contributions to the growing transdisciplinary field of global studies. Linking the pressing global issues of our time to relevant regional developments, Mark Juergensmeyer successfully challenges his readers to think globally while paying attention to their concrete local environments." Manfred B. Steger, Professor of Political Science, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and author of
Globalization: A Very Short Introduction
"Thinking Globally is the first textbook to give an effective overview of global studies as an intellectual field and emergent academic discipline. Juergensmeyer's work has the added virtue of giving a detailed account of global studies in all its complexity."Dr Peter Phipps, Global Studies, RMIT, Melbourne.
"Thinking Globally is an outstanding model of the intellectual and practical issues involved with globalization and its study."John Nemec, Associate Professor of Indian Religions and South Asian Studies, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
About the Author
Mark Juergensmeyer is Professor of Sociology and Director of Global and International Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the winner of the Grawemeyer Award for his book Terror in the Mind of God (UC Press). He is the editor of Global Religions: An Introduction and is also the author of The New Cold War? Religious Nationalism Confronts the Secular State and Gandhi's Way: A Handbook of Conflict Resolution, both from UC Press.
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Rise of Religious Rebellion
1. The Religious Challenge to the Secular State
2. The Front Line of Religious Rebellion: The Middle East
3. Political Targets of Rebellion: South, Central, and Southeast Asia
4. Post-Cold War Rebels: Europe, Asia, and the United States
5. Transnational Networks: Global Jihad
6. The Enduring Problems of Violence, Democracy, and Human Rights
Conclusion: Religious Rebellion and Global War
Notes
List of Interviews
Bibliography
Index