Synopses & Reviews
As the new millenium dawns, religion is again attracting attention as a public and not just a private matter. This book deals with religions contribution to such critical issues for humanitys future as international order and political stability, Third World development and safeguarding the environment, as well as its challenge to the major modern ideologies of socialism and liberalism.
The process of global change which is challenging the states traditional role in international relations is usually seen in terms of economic and technological development. It is also associated with the spreading of modern (Western) consumerist cultural values. Little attention has been paid to the consequences to religion of a process which is affecting not only institutions but also collective values and beliefs. This book addresses the diverse and complex questions raised by a consideration of the relationship of religion to global order. It also assesses the prospects for religion and its likely content in the twenty-first century.
Review
" . . . the collection provides a useful corrective to the "religion as threat" position that often dominates textbooks on international relations, if religion is mentioned . . . " International Affairs
About the Author
Michael Watson is senior lecturer in the Department of International Politics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Professor John Esposito is director of the Center for Christian-Muslim Understanding, Georgetown University.
Table of Contents
Introduction,
John Esposito and Michael WatsonI. Themes, Issues and Tendencies
Overview: the significance of religion for global order, John Esposito and Michael WatsonReligious resurgence, postmodernism and world politics, Scott ThomasReligious transnationalism and global order, with particular consideration of Islam, James PiscatoriCatholicism and international relations:papal interventionism, Michael WalshPolitical Islam and global order, John Esposito
II From the ‘Old to the ‘New Order
Religion and the fall of Communism, Paul BadhamReligion and the political and social order in the Middle East, Simon MurdenRenaissance of political religion in the Third World in the context of global Change, Jeff Haynes
III Critiques and Visions
Buddhist response to global development, Sulak SivaraksaJudaism and global theology, Dan Cohn-SherbokTheology, ecology and the idea of global order, John Haught