Religion and politics Books

Book SynopsisSecularism can be stifling for religious actors seeking a voice in public life. But it can also be empowering. Sarah Shortall tells the story of France’s nouveaux théologiens, who recast arguments over fascism, communism, democracy, and human rights in theological terms, thereby securing a voice for their faith in twentieth-century politics.Trade ReviewSuperbly expands our knowledge of the nouvelle théologie…The book describes a movement begun in exile and youthful rebellion, tested in clandestine anti-Nazi resistance, and shaken by political turmoil and ecclesiastical opprobrium before eventually remaking the face of the Catholic Church…[A] groundbreaking book. -- Peter Steinfels * Commonweal *Soldiers of God is rich in political and intellectual historical insights, and it paves the way for a new agenda in the literature on secularism, religion, and politics, not least for understanding the role of Christianity in European politics today. -- Anders Berg-Sørensen * Contemporary Political Theory *Shortall’s long-awaited book exceeds expectations. On both the micro- and macro-levels—archival research and overarching narrative—the work marks an inflection point in the study of these twentieth-century Jesuit intellectuals (and their Dominican counterparts)…Will remain a touchstone for years to come. -- Stephen Schloesser * Journal of Jesuit Studies *Demonstrates that the separation of church and state ushered in a period of creativity in French religious thought…deserves to find a wide readership among intellectual historians. -- Carol E. Harrison * Journal of Modern History *A profound and important book. Tracing the history of the nouvelle théologie, Shortall shows how religious thinking can scramble our political categories and open up new ways to imagine the future. -- Edward Baring, author of Converts to the Real: Catholicism and the Making of Continental PhilosophyAcross a tumultuous century, as Sarah Shortall reveals, French Catholic thinkers were able to make momentous contributions to politics precisely because they insisted on the irreducibility of religion. Restoring theology to intellectual history, this book is a remarkable debut. -- Samuel Moyn, author of Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal WorldA pathbreaking account of how the nouveaux théologiens reshaped both Catholic theology and secular philosophy in the twentieth century. Shortall thoughtfully retells modern European intellectual history, upending conventional definitions of politics and ultimately transcending the secular–religious divide. -- Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, author of Beyond Religious Freedom: The New Global Politics of ReligionWhat happens when theology and politics mix? Sarah Shortall’s compelling study proposes an answer that is incisive and illuminating from the first page to the last. -- Philip G. Nord, author of After the Deportation: Memory Battles in Postwar France

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Book SynopsisMohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar traces half a century of shifting Islamist doctrines, demonstrating that religious narratives in Iran can change rapidly, frequently, and dramatically in accordance with elites’ threat perceptions. Religious Statecraft constructs a new picture of Iranian politics in which power drives Islamist ideology.Trade Review[An] important and innovative book....a new take on an old puzzle. -- Ray Takeyh * Survival *A welcome new study on Iranian politics and the complex relationship between religion and state since the country's 1979 revolution. * Digest of Middle East Studies *Tabaar depicts Ayatollah Khomeini's nimble ability to tailor religious and nationalist ideology to outmaneuver the Shah, the Iranian Left, and factional opponents. Though unabashed in arguing that political expediency has determined the regime's selections from its toolkit of revolutionary religious doctrine, Religious Statecraft subtly portrays how factions struggle not so much to "tell people what to think" as "what to think about." -- Jack Snyder, Columbia UniversityContinually changing narratives—based on individual, factional, or regime interests rather than on any consistent or immutable commitment to Islamic teachings and principles—define the ebbs and flows of Iran’s postrevolutionary politics. As Tabaar puts it, ‘there is no such thing as political Islam. There is, however, a politics of Islam.’ Through meticulous and extensive use of official, semiofficial, independent, and oppositional media, both in Iran and abroad, Religious Statecraft illustrates and persuasively proves this argument. -- Ali Banuazizi, Boston CollegeThe politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been characterized by ideological inconsistency from its beginning. But Tabaar goes beyond describing the way in which leaders change core ideas. He advances a provocative argument that ideology does not guide decision making directly. Instead, leaders mold their principles to meet the political needs of the moment, restrained not by the contents of those ideas but largely by the need to mobilize followers. -- Nathan J. Brown, George Washington UniversityThe author constructs a refreshing, if somewhat dense and detailed, picture of Iranian politics in which power drives Islamist ideology. * Choice *The main thrust of the book is important and worth repeating, considering the world we live in. A misunderstanding of how the Iranian political system works might lead to adoption of policies by powerful regional and global actors with irreparable outcomes. * Middle East Journal *An important and timely contribution...It ought to be on the reading list of any policy maker who wants to better understand the Islamic Republic's foreign policy. * Perspectives on Politics *This book can be of value to a variety of readers. Obviously scholars and students of Iran and Middle East politics will benefit from its insights, as will those scholars of religion and international relations to whom the above theoretical insights apply. But the book could easily be used in courses on a variety of topics in international security, from nuclear proliferation to revolutions. Finally, while I may have preferred more theoretical discussions, the focus on empirics and avoidance of jargon will make this book accessible for non-academics with an advanced interest in Iran. * Terrorism and Political Violence *As historians and foreign policy scholars continue to study Iran’s recent modern era especially since the Green movement, Tabaar’s groundbreaking work describing internal factional conflicts and religious narrative creation will come into an even clearer view. Furthermore, while Tabaar’s book focuses largely on internal Iranian dynamics, its insights within the context of politics, religion, and ideology are applicable across many academic disciplines. * H-War *Stand[s] out among the existing studies of the Islamic Republic and its supposedly unfathomable political behavior. * American Historical Review *Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: The Politics of Islam1. The Factional Causes and Religious Consequences of Politics2. A Shi’a Theory of the State3. The “Islamic” Revolution4. Institutionalizing Velayat-e Faqih5. The Hostage Crisis: The Untold Account of the Communist Threat6. Religion and Elite Competition in the Iran–Iraq War7. The Metamorphosis of Islamism After the War8. The Factional Battle Over Khomeini’s Velayat-e Faqih9. Media, Religion, and the Green Movement10. Historical Revisionism and Regional Threats11. The Domestic Sources of Nuclear PoliticsConclusionNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisJordan Peterson has attracted a high level of attention. Controversies may bring people into contact with Peterson''s work, but ideas are arguably what keep them there. Focusing on those ideas, this book explores Peterson's answers to perennial questions.What is common to all humans, regardless of their background? Is complete knowledge ever possible? What would constitute a meaningful life? Why have humans evolved the capacity for intelligence? Should one treat others as individuals or as members of a group? Is a single person powerless in the face of evil? What is the relation between speech, thought, and action? Why have religious myths and narratives figured so prominently in human history? Are the hierarchies we find in society good or bad?After devoting a chapter to each of these questions, Champagne unites the different strands of Peterson's thinking in a handy summary. Champagne then spends the remaining third of the book articulating his main critical concerns. He argues that while building on tradition is inevitable and indeed desirable, Peterson's individualist project is hindered by the non-revisable character and self-sacrificial content of religious belief.This engaging multidisciplinary study is ideal for those who know little about Peterson's views, or for those who are familiar but want to see more clearly how Peterson's views hang together. The debates spearheaded by Peterson are in full swing, so Myth, Meaning, and Antifragile Individualism should become a reference point for any serious engagement with Peterson's ideas.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A fascinating, well-researched, cogently argued study. . . . A valuable contribution to understanding how people navigate their lives amid rapidly changing religious and legal contexts."---Candy Gunther Brown, Journal of Religion

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Book SynopsisUntil the modern period the integration of church (or other religion) and state (or political life) had been taken for granted. The political order was always tied to an official religion in Christian Europe, pre-Christian Europe, and in the Arabic world. But from the eighteenth century onwards, some European states began to set up their political order on a different basis. Not religion, but the rule of law through non-religious values embedded in constitutions became the foundation of some states - a movement we now call secularism. In others, a de facto secularism emerged as political values and civil and criminal law altered their professed foundation from a shared religion to a non-religious basis. Today secularism is an increasingly hot topic in public, political, and religious debate across the globe. It is embodied in the conflict between secular republics - from the US to India - and the challenges they face from resurgent religious identity politics; in the challenges faced by religious states like those of the Arab world from insurgent secularists; and in states like China where calls for freedom of belief are challenging a state imposed non-religious worldview. In this Very Short Introduction Andrew Copson tells the story of secularism, taking in momentous episodes in world history, such as the great transition of Europe from religious orthodoxy to pluralism, the global struggle for human rights and democracy, and the origins of modernity. He also considers the role of secularism when engaging with some of the most contentious political and legal issues of our time: ''blasphemy'', ''apostasy'', religious persecution, religious discrimination, religious schools, and freedom of belief and freedom of thought in a divided world.Previously published in hardback as Secularism: Politics, Religion, and FreedomABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewCopson has managed to put together an accessible, but surprisingly nuanced and comprehensive, introduction to secularism that would be appropriate for undergraduate classrooms or lay readers interested in the topic. * Mary Leah Friedline, Religious Studies Review *Today's world is in dire need of the noble tradition of secularism, and I know nobody better qualified than Andrew Copson to expound it. * Richard Dawkins *This is an exceptionally careful, fair-minded and positive introduction to the many meanings of a word often carelessly used. It will be an enormous help to all who want to understand better the current controversies about religious belief and modern society. * Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury *A must read. It is a worthwhile introduction that will inform and may correct some assumptions and prejudices. * The Rev Maurice Stafford, Methodist Recorder *Concise and fair-minded ... Secularism helps the reader navigate [the] ... shifting terrain admirably. * Nick Spencer, Times Literary Supplement *Andrew Copson's short book covers a lot of ground. It is one of the best books I've read in this excellent series. Copson [...] provides a balanced and generous interpretation that presents arguments on different sides ... His approach is subtle and intelligent, and is informed by a deep understanding of the positions of those with whom he disagrees. I learnt a great deal from reading this. * Nigel Warburton, Five Books *Recommended. * CHOICE *Copson is even-handed in his analysis ... This is as nuanced a defence of secularism as you'll find * Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald *Andrew Copson ... looks for genuine debate in Secularism ... It is natural to review books on atheism and secularism together. The intersection of the two groups is large. But one of the chief benefits of reading Copson is that he enables us to think more deeply about how they diverge. * Maximilian de Gaynesford, The Tablet *It is to Andrew Copson's credit that his short book refuses to circumvent ... big issues but rather brings them blinking out into the light and enables readers to understand better and think more clearly about them. It is undoubtedly the author's hope-and by and large this reviewer's too-that by the end of the book readers will look more positively on secularism. But that would mark not the end of a debate, but the start of a new one. Secularism yes. But what kind? * Nick Spencer, Theos *An excellent and sympathetic introduction to secularism * Paradigm Explorer *[Copson's] new book strikes the rare balance of being both entertaining and informative ... [His] gift, it seems, is the ability to condense decades of the evolution and analysis of the concept of secularism into 140 short pages. * The Pink Humanist *Secularism is of growing importance all over the world, yet it is also an approach with deep roots reaching far back into our history. Andrew Copson elegantly explores this history as well as secularism's importance today, showing how it evolved and how it is the key to de-escalating so many of the modern world's points of conflict. * Dan Snow *Andrew Copson is one of the most thoughtful people in the world on secularism. We have never needed a sane, intelligent, persuasive guide to secularism more than now - so I'd say thank God for this excellent book, if that wasn't too obviously ironic. * Johann Hari *A timely tour de force and indispensable analysis for anyone seeking to get to grips with the roots, philosophy, and current controversies surrounding secularism which are challenging our vexed world. * Professor Francesca Klug, author of Magna Carta For All Humanity: Homing in on Human Rights *A secular state embraces freedom of religion or belief, the equal treatment of persons regardless of faith, and the separation of religious and state authorities. In this wide-ranging and timely study Andrew Copson describes the virtues of secularism as the guarantor of equal dignity, freedom, and security for all, but also the various platforms from which it is opposed, and its fragile and increasingly beleaguered state across the world. Scrupulously fair, his book brings much-needed clarity into a confused and embittered area of dispute. * Simon Blackburn, author of Ethics: A Very Short Introduction and Plato's Republic: A Biography *This is a dazzling tour of the history and meanings of Secularism. Copson pulls off that most compelling thing a synthesis of nuance and rigour that is global in its vision, historical in its foundation, but fully contemporary in its relevance. For being so intimately involved in advocacy, the author demonstrates balance and understanding of critical as well as supportive positions, and with its authoritative research base this is immensely useful for student learning in the growing arena of Studies in Nonbelief. * Callum Brown, Professor of Late modern European History, University of Glasgow *Table of Contents1: What is secularism? 2: Secularism in Western societies 3: Secularism diversifies 4: The case for secularism 5: The case against secularism 6: Conceptions of secularism 7: Hard questions and new conflicts Afterword: The future of secularism References and Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisExamines how English Catholic exiles in Spain used print and other written media to promote the conquest of England and the spiritual renewal of Christendom. Trade Review“Domínguez has provided a focused, informed, and lively account of the publishing activities of Elizabethan English Catholic exiles—and through these activities the exiles’ deep involvement in Spanish political-ecclesiastical culture—during a critical moment in the history of Anglo-Spanish politics.”—Daniel Knapper Reformation“Domínguez makes a clear and forceful argument for the impact of Spanish Elizabethan authors on Spanish politics during the final decades of Philip II’s reign. Yet this book achieves something even more significant for those of us looking to the future of early modern studies. It demonstrates the benefits of transnationalism in furthering our understanding of Europe’s religious and political environment.”—Kelsey J. Ihinger Bulletin of the Comediantes“Scholarship on English Catholicism has started to take greater account of its broadly European and international dimensions, and Domínguez makes an important contribution to this line of scholarship. Radicals in Exile presents a convincing case for the central role of English Catholics in late sixteenth-century Spanish and wider European politics. It casts new light on English Catholics’ links with Spain, and future scholarship will no doubt expand on these links, looking at connections beyond the printed word.”—Jonathan Roche Journal of British Studies“Freddy Domínguez’s important book expands our knowledge of English and Spanish Catholic print culture beyond immediate confessional considerations to illuminate instead the tangled polemics of secular rule and spiritual authority.”—Anne J. Cruz Renaissance and Reformation“Domínguez’s work, with its transnational perspective, rejection of confessional and nationalist narratives, and recovery of marginal voices, contributes positively to encouraging trends in modern Reformation scholarship.”—Alexander DeWitt SJ Archivum Historicum Societatis Iesu“Skillfully researched and written with enviable clarity, Freddy Domínguez’s Radicals in Exile explores in detail a series of texts English Catholics wrote from Spain during the dramatic years of the 1580s and ’90s. His readings of these works are original and illuminating, and they integrate this singular corpus into the wider religious and intellectual history of the period.”—James S. Amelang,author of Parallel Histories: Muslims and Jews in Inquisitorial Spain“This book puts the punch back into early modern religious polemic. Radical English Catholic exiles deftly bob and weave across the pages with hired-gun Protestant apologists. London swings at Madrid, Madrid jabs back at London, while Rome, Paris, and Antwerp stand by, eager to climb into the ring. The many contenders in this post-Reformation prizefight in print yield refreshingly unfamiliar viewpoints, internecine agendas, and a dynamic polyglot literature that has been too often overlooked.”—Earle Havens,Nancy H. Hall Curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts, Johns Hopkins University“Through a meticulous engagement with both English and Spanish works and ideas, Domínguez reminds us that exiles were influenced not only by developments in England, but also by the historical circumstances and ideas present in their adoptive home. Radicals in Exile is a much-needed study, which is sure to make an indelible impact in the field.”—Gonzalo Velasco Berenguer Journal of Modern HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I: History in Action1. The Radicalization of Exile Polemic2. Calling the Armada3. English History Made SpanishConclusion to Part IPart II: The King’s Men4. English Voices in Spain5. An Anglo-Spanish Voice in Europe6 Between “English” Providentialism and Reason of StateConclusion to Part IIPart III: (Habsburg) England and Spain Reformed 7. Politics of Succession8. Practical Politics and Christian Reason of StateConclusion to Part IIIConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis'No one else casts such a shrewd and gimlet eye on contemporary life.' - William BoydComic, dark and insightful, What Happened? is Hanif Kureishi's new collection of essays and fiction.

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Book SynopsisJournalist Khaled Ahmed analyzes Pakistan's democracy challenges and religious influence, focusing on post-9/11 terrorism policies. He discusses the country's role as a terrorist safe haven despite joining the US in the war on terror, and delves into the origins of terrorist groups and the forgotten ideologies of Pakistan's founding figures.

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Book SynopsisChallenges to a Liberal Polity by Hamid Ansari explores critical issues in Indian society and politics, including citizenship, religion, democracy, and Muslim identity. The book is comprehensive, argumentative, and relevant for readers, politicians, policymakers, and scholars.

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Book SynopsisBetween the Brown and the Red captures the multifaceted nature of church-state relations in communist Poland, relations that oscillated between mutual confrontation, accommodation, and dialogue. Ironically, under communism the bond between religion and nation in Poland grew stronger.Trade Review“Employing excellent archival research and deft writing, Kunicki weaves the complex saga [of Boleslaw Piasecki’s career] into an analysis of the relationship between authoritarianism, nationalism, communism, and religion in Poland over the decades to the present postcommunist nation…. Summing Up: Highly recommended.” * Choice *“Mikołaj Stanisław Kunicki has written a magnificent political biography of Bolesław Piasecki…. This book will be required reading for any historian of modern Poland and should also appeal to anyone interested in nationalism, communism, the political Right in the twentieth century, the nature of totalitarianism in postwar Eastern Europe, and the persistence of prewar fascist strands in the communist East (hence the book’s title)…. This is an extremely well-researched, wellconceptualized, and original work.” * American Historical Review *“This is an original, thought provoking, often deliberately provocative book, based on a wealth of archival and published sources. It is, as well, a pleasure to read. Between the Brown and the Red takes its place as one of the best studies of the complex relationship of Catholicism and politics in recent Polish history.” * Cosmopolitan Review *“Kunicki provides a concise political history of Poland and its significant leaders. Piasecki, while not a major leader, contributed from the very beginnings of Poland’s turbulent times with a taste of freedom following World War I up to his death in 1979…. This biography, one of the few in English, will be a welcome addition to Polish American historians.” * Polish American Journal *

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Book SynopsisOffers a comprehensive view of St Augustine's political ideas.Trade Review[This volume] offers one-stop access to the political ideas of a major pre-modern thinker. The translations are fresh, accurate, supple, and clear, and the notes and comments are helpful. Ernest Fortin's excellent Introduction sets the central text, the City of God, in historical perspective and outlines problems Augustine faced in trying to reconcile Christian faith with the legitimate demands of civic life. --Alan R. Perreiah, Teaching PhilosophyBrilliantly organized. I particularly like the brief introductions before each section which help to set the context of each piece. --Brian Caza, Georgetown College

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Book SynopsisThe best available introduction to the political thought of Augustine, if not to Christian political thought in general. Included are generous selections from City of God, as well as from many lesser-known writings of Augustine.Trade Review[This volume] offers one-stop access to the political ideas of a major pre-modern thinker. The translations are fresh, accurate, supple, and clear, and the notes and comments are helpful. Ernest Fortin's excellent Introduction sets the central text, the City of God, in historical perspective and outlines problems Augustine faced in trying to reconcile Christian faith with the legitimate demands of civic life. --Alan R. Perreiah, Teaching PhilosophyBrilliantly organized. I particularly like the brief introductions before each section which help to set the context of each piece. --Brian Caza, Georgetown College

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Book SynopsisIn Jewish Radical Ultra-Orthodoxy Confronts Modernity, Zionism and Women''s Equality, Motti Inbari undertakes a study of the culture and leadership of Jewish radical ultra-Orthodoxy in Hungary, Jerusalem and New York. He reviews the history, ideology and gender relations of prominent ultra-Orthodox leaders Amram Blau (18941974), founder of the anti-Zionist Jerusalemite Neturei Karta, and Yoel Teitelbaum (18871979), head of the Satmar Hasidic movement in New York. Focussing on the rabbis'' biographies, the author analyzes their enclave building methods, their attitude to women and modesty, and their eschatological perspectives. The research is based on newly discovered archival materials, covering many unique and remarkable findings. The author concludes with a discussion of contemporary trends in Jewish religious radicalization. Inbari highlights the resilience of the current generations'' sense of community cohesion and their capacity to adapt and overcome challenges such as rehabilitTrade Review'… Inbari's book stands as a major contribution to the literature on ultra-Orthodoxy and Jewish fundamentalism, an excellent introduction to and overview of a fascinating corner of the Jewish world.' Hadas Fischer, H-Net 'Inbari's book gives us a comprehensive and fascinating account of the ideological origins of some of the most significant radical ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionist movements, shedding new light on their fraught battle with modernity. Particularly illuminating is his use of new documents from Rabbi Amram Blau's personal archive.' Lihi Ben Shitrit, Politics and Religion'There is nothing in this book that is not extremely interesting.' Reuven Firestone, Journal of Religion and Violence'This is an important introductory work that serves to revive the sociological interest in Haredi society both in Israel and abroad. It joins Motti Inbari's other important studies, devoted to Rabbi Uzi Meshulam and his followers, the Temple Mount groups, and ultra-Orthodox radicals. Collectively, these works show Inbari to be an important scholar of the radical fringes of religious Jewish society and the ideologies supporting them.' Nissim Leon, Israel Studies Review'His new book … will interest all students of modern Jewish religious history …' Marc Shapiro, AJS Review'The book's strength is in the breadth of its vision, encompassing several significant developments in Haredi Judaism over the past century. … the book is a useful study of an important phenomenon and could be readily adopted by course instructors wishing to include accessible material on an important contemporary phenomenon in Judaism.' Ira Robinson, Nova ReligioTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The de Haan assassination and the background to the formation of Neturei Karta; 2. Rabbi Amram Blau, founder of the Neturei Karta movement; 3. The modesty campaigns of Rabbi Amram Blau and the Neturei Karta movement, 1938–74; 4. Messianic activism in the work and thought of Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira (the Munkacser Rebbe) in the interwar period; 5. The life and work of Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, founder of the Satmar Hasidic court in New York; 6. Eschatology, dualism, and the decline of the generations - the world view of radical ultra-orthodoxy; 7. Jewish zealotry - past and present; Epilogue. Contemporary trends in radical ultra-orthodoxy.

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Book SynopsisAfrican American Catholics, though small in number and historically the targets of racial intolerance, are now the backbone of the church. The vast majority of African American Catholics do not perceive racial marginalization and intolerance in the church. African American Catholics are among the strongest religious identifiers in the church, while whites show a more fragile Catholic identity. The Catholic church may have finally overcome its racist past for the vast majority of African American Catholics, but serious concerns remain for white Catholics. Based on data from a national religion survey, this book explores religious attitudes from an African American Catholic perspective.Table of Contents1. African American Catholics and contradictions; 2. The shaping of an African American Catholic identity; 3. African American Catholics in the American religious context; 4. Religious engagement, religiosity, and faithfulness; 5. The importance of clergy and declining vocations; 6. Perceptions of racial intolerance; 7. Racial resentment among white Catholics; 8. Conclusion. A new narrative.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines 111 types of state religion policy in 177 countries between 1990 and 2008. Jonathan Fox argues that policy is largely a result of the competition between political secular actors and religious actors, both of which try to influence state religion policy. While there are other factors that influence state religion policy and both the secular and religious camps are divided, Fox offers that the secular-religious competition perspective provides critical insight into the nature of religious politics across the globe. While many states have both increased and decreased their involvement in religion, Fox demonstrates that states which have become more involved in religion are far more common.Trade Review'Drawing on an impressive wealth of new data, Fox offers more detail and nuance on the relationship between religion and state than any publication to date. He demonstrates that the relationship is often not what it seems: apparent efforts to support religion can serve as mechanisms for control; despite expectations of insignificance, religion remains a central concern in state policies; and rather than being stable, as constitutions might suggest, the relationships between religion and state are ever changing.' Roger Finke, Pennsylvania State University'Despite the apparent clarity of Jesus's admonition to 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's', secular and religious leaders have always competed over issues of religious policy. Jonathan Fox provides an analysis of this competition that is nuanced, sophisticated, and compelling. This is an example of the 'science' of comparative politics at its best.' Ted G. Jelen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas'Fox's detailed categorization and analysis of the phenomenon of state religion policy is essential reading.' Journal of Church and StateTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Secularism or secularization?; 3. Establishment, support, neutrality, or hostility: the varieties of official religion policy; 4. State support for religion; 5. Regulation, restriction, and control of the majority religion; 6. Religious discrimination; 7. Education, abortion, and proselytizing; 8. Religion in constitutions; 9. Conclusions; Appendix A. Data collection and reliability.

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Book SynopsisThe past two decades have seen an increasing association between Lebanese Salafism and violence, with less attention being paid to Salafis who focus on peaceful proselytization. In reality, it is these Salafis whose influence has dramatically grown since the eruption of the Syrian conflict that profoundly affected Lebanon as well. Based on extensive fieldwork, Zoltan Pall offers insights into the dynamics of non-violent Lebanese Salafi groups and examines the importance of transnational links in shaping the trajectory of the movement. In particular, he shows how the internal transformation of Salafism in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia led to the fragmentation of the Lebanese Salafi community. By analysing Salafism as a network, we see how the movement creates and mobilizes material and symbolic resources, and how it contributes to reshaping the structures of authority within the country''s Sunni Muslim community.Trade Review'The spread of Salafi Islam in recent years has significantly changed religious scene in the Arab world. Focusing on Lebanon, Zoltan Pall's careful study sheds new light on our understanding of Salafism, its transnational network, and its effects on public life in the Middle East and beyond.' Asef Bayat, Bastian Professor of Global and Transnational Studies and Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign'Pall has written a highly informative book on the Salafi movement in Lebanon. Based largely on years of fieldwork in northern Lebanon and supported by deep knowledge of the country's sectarian and political relations, this book sheds important light on the 'purist' and 'haraki' (activist) Salafis and their transnational links to the Gulf.' Joas Wagemakers, Universiteit Utrecht, The NetherlandsTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The transformation of Salafism in the Gulf; 2. Salafi expansion in the 1990s; 3. The fragmentation of Salafism in northern Lebanon; 4. The authority of Salafi Shaykhs; 5. The structure of Lebanese Salafi networks at the local level; 6. Transnational networks of Lebanese Salafis; 7. Recruitment; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisA pioneering comparative study of the two major attempts to build secular states - where the state''s constitutional identity and fundamental character are not based on or derived from any religious faith - in the non-Western world. This book explains the origins, evolution and latterly the decline of secularism as a core principle of the state in India and Turkey. The anti-secular political transformations of the twenty-first century are the rise of a Sunni-Islamist definition of Turkish national identity to hegemonic power, and Hindu nationalism as India''s pre-eminent political force. Both secular-state models adopted a similar operational doctrine of state intervention in and regulation of the religious sphere, rather than a Western-style separation of church and state. But, Turkish state-secularism took a culturally deracinated and harshly authoritarian form that led to its failure, whereas India''s secular state - though flawed in practice - followed a culturally rooted and democTrade Review'The book shows why secular politics consistently fails to deliver on its promises.' Nick Spencer, The TabletTable of ContentsPreface; 1. The discontents of secularism; 2. Paths to the secular state; 3. Paradoxes of the secular state; 4. India: the anti-secularist ascendancy; 5. Turkey: the anti-secularist triumph; 6. Secular and anti-secular authoritarianisms: i. The case of Kemalism ii. The case of Hindu-nationalism; 7. The futures of secularism; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisProtectors of Pluralismargues that local religious minorities are more likely to save persecuted groups from purification campaigns. Robert Braun utilizes a geo-referenced dataset of Jewish evasion in the Netherlands and Belgium during the Holocaust to assess the minority hypothesis. Spatial statistics and archival work reveal that Protestants were more likely to rescue Jews in Catholic regions of the Low Countries, while Catholics facilitated evasion in Protestant areas. Post-war testimonies and secondary literature demonstrate the importance of minority groups for rescue in other countries during the Holocaust as well as other episodes of mass violence, underlining how the local position of church communities produces networks of assistance, rather than something inherent to any religion itself. This book makes an important contribution to the literature on political violence, social movements, altruism and religion, applying a range of social science methodologies and theories that Trade Review'Braun's book should be of considerable interest to organizational scholars, who have increasingly come to situate the selection of organizational activities within a spatial and historical context.' Martin Ruef, Social ForcesTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Theory and Context: 2. Theory; 3. Religious minorities in the Low Countries: from the Reformation: to the Holocaust; Part II. Religious Minorities in the Netherlands: 4. Minority empathy 1900–1942; 5. Religious minorities and evasion in the Netherlands; 6. Religious minorities and clandestine collective action in Twente; 7. Religious minorities and rescue beyond Twente; Part III. Exceptions and Scope Conditions: 8. Off-the-line cases; 9. Christian rescue in Belgium; 10. Conclusion: minority protection across time and space; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisA pioneering comparative study of the two major attempts to build secular states - where the state''s constitutional identity and fundamental character are not based on or derived from any religious faith - in the non-Western world. This book explains the origins, evolution and latterly the decline of secularism as a core principle of the state in India and Turkey. The anti-secular political transformations of the twenty-first century are the rise of a Sunni-Islamist definition of Turkish national identity to hegemonic power, and Hindu nationalism as India''s pre-eminent political force. Both secular-state models adopted a similar operational doctrine of state intervention in and regulation of the religious sphere, rather than a Western-style separation of church and state. But, Turkish state-secularism took a culturally deracinated and harshly authoritarian form that led to its failure, whereas India''s secular state - though flawed in practice - followed a culturally rooted and democTrade Review'The book shows why secular politics consistently fails to deliver on its promises.' Nick Spencer, The TabletTable of ContentsPreface; 1. The discontents of secularism; 2. Paths to the secular state; 3. Paradoxes of the secular state; 4. India: the anti-secularist ascendancy; 5. Turkey: the anti-secularist triumph; 6. Secular and anti-secular authoritarianisms: i. The case of Kemalism ii. The case of Hindu-nationalism; 7. The futures of secularism; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe threat of personal harm and destruction from terrorist attacks is nowhere near as great as in Arab nations. However, are counter-terrorism laws in the Arab world formulated and enforced to protect or oppress? Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, and Anti-Terrorism Law in the Arab World examines the relationship between Western influence and counter-terrorism law, focusing on the Arab world, which is, on the one hand, a hostile producer of terrorist organizations, and on the other, a leader in countering ''terrorism''. With case studies of Egypt and Tunisia, Alzubairi traces the colonial roots of the use of coercion and extra-legal measures to protect the ruling order, which are now justified in both the West and the Arab world in the name of counter-terrorism. Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, and Anti-Terrorism Law in the Arab World provides important lessons for counter-terrorism, not just in these countries but also elsewhere in the world.Trade Review'An excellent examination of the neglected but vital subject of counter-terrorism in the Arab world and an essential text in the field of comparative counter-terrorism. A must read for all those interested in understanding the effects of both counter-terrorism and colonialism in both Egypt and Tunisia.' Kent Roach, Prichard Wilson Chair in Law and Public Policy, University of Toronto, author of Comparative Counter-Terrorism'This is an extremely timely and cogent investigation into the origins, development and current deployment of counter-terrorism law and policy in Egypt and Tunisia. The application of colonial and neo-colonial lenses to Arab states' counter-terrorism legislation underlies a compelling account of the ways in which these current laws and practices fit into today's global power dynamics.' Lynn Welchman, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London'Overall, Alzubairi's study is certainly a remarkable scholarly work that adds crucial value to our knowledge of the genesis and genealogy of antiterrorism and counterterrorism in the Global South and the Arabic Middle East … which represents a premium contribution to the body of literature in the fields of terrorism and Middle Eastern studies.' Ahmed M. Abozaid, Terrorism & Political ViolenceTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. On imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism; 2. Terrorism and counter-terrorism at the international level: a challenge in the post-colonial world; 3. Terrorism and counter-terrorism in the Arab world; 4. The Colonial and neo-colonial experience in Egypt; 5. Counter-terrorism in Egypt; 6. The colonial and neo-colonial experience in Tunisia; 7. Counter-terrorism in Tunisia; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisFor readers interested in how international context interacts with domestic politics in producing state policies toward religious minorities in Turkey and France. It is the first study that employs international context in the study of state policies toward religion and that compares Turkey and France with regard to religious minorities.Trade Review'Through a comparative analysis of state policies toward Christian minorities in Turkey and Muslim minorities in France, Ramazan Kılınç effectively demonstrates how international norms and context can interact with domestic actors to shape state policies toward religious minorities. This is a notable work of research and scholarship. It is theoretically sophisticated and provides a new model to understand complex and often changing domestic state policies toward religious minorities.' J. Christopher Soper, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Pepperdine University, California'This timely and innovative book is a critical resource for anyone seeking to understand state policies towards religious minorities. Kılınç convincingly shows that domestic actors take advantage of changing international contexts to press for their preferred state policies towards religious minorities. The careful comparative analyses of French policies towards Muslims, and Turkish policies towards Christians, with extensions to additional cases, make this work essential reading in religion and politics. Alien Citizens is also a significant contribution to our understanding of the causal role of international factors in national politics.' Carolyn M. Warner, Vail Pittman Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of Nevada, Reno'In this empirically rich and theoretically ingenious book, Ramazan Kılınç brings the perspectives of International Relations in the analysis of state-religion relations. Alien Citizens examines state policies toward Christians in Turkey and Muslims in France by distinctively explaining how international conditions have shaped these policies.' Ahmet T. Kuru, author of Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment: A Global and Historical Comparison'What makes this book compelling and refreshing is its emphasis on the interaction between international and domestic policy arenas through an examination of seemingly opposing policies in two very different contexts.' H. Shambayati, ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Rethinking state policies toward religious minorities; Part I. Historical Institutions: 2. Secularism and Christians in Turkey; 3. Secularism and Muslims in France; Part II. International Context: 4. The European Union and Christians in Turkey; 5. Islamophobia and Muslims in France; Part III. Domestic Actors and Policy Change: 6. Kemalists, conservatives, and Christians in Turkey; 7. Radical right, liberals, and Muslims in France; Conclusion; 8. Testing the argument beyond the scope of the study; 9: Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThis sociological study examines the religious movement Falun Gong within the context of the contentious politics literature. Using the 1989 democracy movement as a comparative case, the author explains Falun Gong's intensive grassroots mobilization, its significance for China, and its implications for understanding religious and political movements.Trade Review'Junker's incisive analysis of the two largest and most organized citizen movements in China's reform era - Falun Gong and the post-1989 democracy movement - is an invaluable resource for scholars of contentious politics and state-society relations, as well as those seeking to understand the direction of politics within the overseas Chinese diaspora.' Carl Minzner, Fordham University School of Law, New York'Becoming Activists in Global China is an extraordinarily interesting book. Employing impressive hermeneutic skills, Junker comes up with one eye-popping cultural interpretation after another. These empirical discoveries serve Junker's broader, theoretical ambition, which is to demonstrate that shared meanings - what he terms 'in-group culture' - play a much more consequential role in the formation of social movements than previous sociological thinking has allowed.' Jeffrey C. Alexander, Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of Sociology, Yale University, Connecticut'An excellent book, meticulously researched, clearly written, and theoretically path-breaking.' David A. Palmer, author of Qigong Fever: Body, Science and Utopia in China'The book is methodologically solid, empirically nuanced, and theoretically provocative. Each page is an intellectually rewarding experience.' Rongbin Han, MobilizationTable of ContentsPart I. Thinking Comparatively: 1. Protest made in global China; 2. Comparing Falun Gong and Minyun as movements; 3. The forgotten importance of Falun Gong; Part II. The Cases: 4. Falun Gong: Qigong fad, new religion, protest movement; 5. Falun Gong's history of 'stepping forward'; 6. Overseas Minyun: democracy through bureaucracy, factionalism, and asylum brokering; Part III. Making Social Movements in Diaspora; 7. Publics, proselytizing, and protest: tactical repertoires compared; 8. Clarifying truth and saving souls; 9. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisDoes religion influence political participation? This book takes up this pressing debate using Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa as its empirical base to demonstrate that religious teachings communicated in sermons can influence both the degree and the form of citizens'' political participation. McClendon and Riedl document some of the current diversity of sermon content in contemporary Christian houses of worship and then use a combination of laboratory experiments, observational survey data, focus groups, and case comparisons in Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya to interrogate the impact of sermon exposure on political participation and the longevity of that impact. Pews to Politics in Africa leverages the pluralism of sermons in sub-Saharan Africa to gain insight into the content of cultural influences and their consequences for how ordinary citizens participate in politics.Trade Review'This deeply insightful, empirically rigorous, persuasive analysis demonstrates the influence of Christian sermons in Anglophone Africa. These teachings differ by denomination and context, serving as distinct interpretative maps that diagnose political problems - and suggest very different solutions.' Anna Grzymala-Busse, Stanford University, California'McClendon and Riedl have written an excellent and innovative book, in which they set out to discover whether religious teachings - even when not overtly political - shape political behavior. The authors' deep knowledge of context and cases, combined with careful data and methods, show that religious ideas do have political effects, with implications for the culture of democracy.' Melani Cammett, Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Harvard University, Massachusetts'In this masterful account, McClendon and Riedl achieve something of the holy grail in religion and politics research … Scholars new and old will learn a tremendous amount from this important work, and work going forward will have to grapple with its lessons.' Paul Djupe, Denison University, Ohio'Religious messages are ubiquitous in Africa, yet little is known about how exposure to religious messages shapes political behavior. McClendon and Riedl fill this gap with an insightful and deeply illuminating analysis of the impact of this exposure. From Pews to Politics is a great book: theoretically grounded, empirically rich, and methodologically sophisticated.' Daniel N. Posner, James S. Coleman Professor of International Development, University of California, Los Angeles'From Pews to Politics makes an outstanding contribution to research on religion and politics. By meticulously applying an impressive array of empirical approaches, [it] convincingly demonstrates that Christian denominations' differing emphasis on individual agency affects adherents' willingness to participate in politics and to seek structural change.' Kimuli Kasara, Columbia University, New York'In this powerfully argued and creative book, McClendon and Riedl unpack how Christian sermons shape political life in contemporary Africa … Even if mainly about personal or family topics, sermons give parishioners analytic frameworks for understanding events in the world and how change is possible … These different worldviews carry over into how their parishioners seek political change. The book is a must-read for those interested in contemporary Africa, the role of religion in politics, or the ongoing rise of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity across the developing world.' Noah Nathan, Foreign Affairs'McClendon and Riedl have written a brilliant book that offers a solid model of both methodological and topical sophistication. The authors take seriously the fact that 90 percent or more of Africans claim a religious affiliation, and the obvious implications of that fact for political action. I can't recommend it highly enough.' Laura Seay, The Washington Post'From Pews to Politics exemplifies comparative politics scholarship at its best. Through a rare combination of conceptual acuity, methodological dexterity, and conscientious contextual grounding, the authors develop powerful insights into an old question: To what extent do religious ideas influence the content, mode, and degree of individuals' political engagement? …' Elizabeth Sheridan Sperber, Perspectives on PoliticsTable of Contents1. Religion as metaphysical instruction, and its influence on political participation; 2. Christianity and politics in Africa; 3. Differences in contemporary Christian sermon content; 4. Effects of sermons on citizens: evidence from the lab; 5. Recharging sermon influence: evidence from surveys and focus groups; 6. Group-level political engagement; 7. Implications and conclusions.

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Book SynopsisThe history of the Indonesian Revolution has been dominated by depictions of grassroots fighters and elite politicians who thought of it as a nationalistic or class-based war. In this major new study, Kevin W. Fogg rethinks the Indonesian Revolution (194549) as an Islamic struggle, in which pious Muslims, who made up almost half the population, fought and organized in religious ways. Muslims fighting on the ground were convinced by their leaders'' proclamations that they were fighting for a holy cause. In the political sphere, however, national leaders failed to write Islam into Indonesia''s founding documents - but did create revolutionary precedents that continue to impact the country to this day. This study of a war of decolonization in the world''s most populous Muslim country points to the ways in which Islam has functioned as a revolutionary ideology in the modern era.Trade Review'Indonesia's Islamic Revolution offers a fine analysis of the distinct place of the Muslim elites and grassroot activists in the Indonesia's revolution - an alternative to the conventional secular and leftist narratives, and not only sheds a fresh light on how and why religious aspiration hardly dies in contemporary Indonesian politics but also significantly contributes to a comparative study of religion and revolution in the modern societies.' Muhamad Ali, University of California, Riverside'Bringing his subject alive with beautifully illuminating vignettes and acute observations, Kevin W. Fogg presents a powerful new interpretation of Indonesia's revolution that is also a pleasure to read. Indonesia's Islamic Revolution is a major work of social and political history that casts new light on the Islamic origins of modern Indonesia.' Edward Aspinall, Australian National University'Indonesia's Islamic Revolution is a good place to start, with an interesting bibliography that combines Western and Indonesian publications, and a narrative made more intriguing by excerpts from oral interviews.' Chiara Formichi, South East Asia ResearchTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Islam in Indonesia before the Revolution; 1.1 Islam in Indonesia at the turn of the twentieth century; 1.2 Divisions within the Muslim community; 1.3 Trends in the early twentieth century; 1.4 Japanese occupation; Part I. Islam in Indonesia's War of Independence: 2. Islamic calls to action; 2.1 The reasons for the revolutionary struggle; 2.2 Early Fatwas; 2.3 A flood of Fatwas; 2.4 A manifesto for the Islamic revolution: M. Arsjad Thalib Lubis's Toentoenan Perang Sabil; 2.5 Attacks on Islam as calls for action; 2.6 Conclusion; 3. Ulama, Islamic organizations, and Islamic militias; 3.1 Ulama as revolutionary leaders; 3.2 The mobilization of Islamic organizations; 3.3 Sabilillah and Hizbullah; 3.4 Islamic militias in battle; 3.5 Conclusion; 4. Magic, amulets and trances; 4.1 Tradition of Islamic magic; 4.2 Prayers and incantations; 4.3 Amulets and spells; 4.4 Martial arts and trances; 4.5 Consequences of Islamic magic: fearlessness and high casualties; 4.6 Conclusions; 5. Social revolution; 5.1 Meaning of social revolution; 5.2 Out with the old; 5.3 In with the new (and Islamic); 5.4 Social revolution in Aceh: the Cumbok War; 5.5 Madiun affair as competing social revolutions; 5.6 Staying power of social revolution; 5.7 Conclusion; 6. Darul Islam; 6.1 Sequence of events leading Kartosuwirjo into rebellion; 6.2 The Darul Islam movement within the Islamic spectrum; 6.3 Exceptional factor: Kartosuwirjo; 6.4 Conclusion; Part II. Islam in Indonesia's Political Revolution: 7. The Jakarta Charter controversy; 7.1 Creation of the investigatory board; 7.2 The creation of Pancasila and the Jakarta Charter; 7.3 Removal of the Jakarta charter from the constitution; 7.4 Implications of the elimination of the Jakarta Charter; 8. The creation of Masjumi; 8.1 The evolving state in 1945; 8.2 Founding an Islamic political party: Masjumi; 8.3 Extraordinary members; 8.4 Masjumi leadership in 1945; 8.5 Conclusions; 9. The ministry of religion; 9.1 Colonial precedents; 9.2 Establishing a ministry; 9.3 The ministry of religion in action; 9.4 Conclusions: importance of the ministry; 10. Rise of Islamic socialists; 10.1 Background of the Islamic socialists; 10.2 Rise in government and the party; 10.3 Islamic socialists and the Masjumi platform; 10.4 Conclusions; 11. Regional Islamic parties; 11.1 Masjumi's geographic expansion; 11.2 Persatuan Tarbiyah Islamiyah (Perti); 11.3 Regional political Islam facing federalism; 11.4 Conclusion; 12. The exit of PSII and the first fracture of Masjumi; 12.1 Standard narrative of PSII's exit: central power play; 12.2 PSII's own narrative: regional initiative; 12.3 Weighing personal versus regional interests in PSII's rebirth; 12.4 Conclusions: the implications of PSII's exit for Islamic politics; 13. Islamic diplomacy; 13.1 Grassroots Islamic diplomacy; 13.2 Success with the Arab League; 13.3 Diplomatic milestones; 13.4 Conclusions; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisPost 1857, colonial India witnessed the emergence of numerous new forms of Muslim identities, some emerging as new Islamic 'sects' (maslaks), and others based on educational priorities. This book critically examines, how a feeling of utter humiliation - zillat - acted as an agentive force allowing Muslims to remake their many identities.Table of ContentsPreface: The Making of this Book; Introduction; 1. Who is a Muslim?: Identities of Exclusion; 2. Zillat, apne hathoṅ se; 3. Main majbūr hu'ā: Print Matters; 4. Performativity, and Orality in Print; Conclusions; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisIn times of extreme violence, what explains peace in some places? This book investigates geographic variation in Hindu-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002, an event witnessed closely by the author. It compares peaceful and violent towns, villages, and neighbourhoods to study how political violence spreads. A combination of statistical and ethnographic methods unpack the mechanisms of crowd behaviour, intergroup relations, and political incentives. Macro-level risk factors that led to the violence are analysed to provide a close understanding of the behaviour of people who participated in the violence, were targeted by it and, often, compelled to carry on living alongside their perpetrators. Findings systematically demonstrate the implicit political logic of the violence. Most of all, by moving up close to the people caught in the middle of violence; findings highlight the interplay between politics, the spatial environment, and the cognitive decision-making processes of individuals.Table of ContentsList of tables; List of images; List of figures; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Explaining variation in violence: an introduction; 2. Peace and violence: concepts and theory; 3. The political logic of violence: anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat; 4. Ahmedabad; 5. Spatial configuration: variation in violence across neighbourhoods; 6. Monitoring and control in two peaceful neighbourhoods; 7. So near, and yet so far: group relations between victims and perpetrators of violence; 8. BJP's Muslim supporters in Ahmedabad; 9. Ethnic violence: connecting the macro with the micro; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book captures the Indian state''s difficult dialogue with divorce, mediated largely through religion. By mapping the trajectories of marriage and divorce laws of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities in post-colonial India, it explores the dynamic interplay between law, religion, family, minority rights and gender in Indian politics. It demonstrates that the binary frameworks of the private-public divide, individuals versus group rights, and universal rights versus legal pluralism collapse before the peculiarities of religious personal law. Historicizing the legislative and judicial response to decades of public debates and activism on the question of personal law, it suggests that the sustained negotiations over family life within and across the legal landscape provoked a unique and deeply contextual evolution of both, secularism and religion in India''s constitutional order. Personal law, therefore, played a key role in defining the place of religion and determining the conteTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Glossary; Introduction: law as a dialogue; 1. Personal law and the making of modern religion 1946–1956; 2. Committees, codes and customs: renegotiating personal law 1957–1969; 3. Social movements, national emergency, and the custody of the Constitution 1967–1979; 4. Muslim law, Hindu nationalism: secularism of community and gender 1980–1992; 5. The court in context 1992-2000s; 6. From the court room to the courtyard: the public life of personal law 2000–present; Conclusion; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisTracing the centrality of women in the definition of Turkish secularism, this study investigates the 2003 decision to increase the number of women officers employed by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). It explores how, as professional religious officers, the female Diyanet preachers epitomize a pious, modern and highly educated woman whose role in society has been raised to prominence. Based on extensive fieldwork in Turkey, and drawing on a rich ethnography of the activities conducted by Diyanet women preachers in Istanbul, Chiara Maritato disentangles the state''s attempt to standardize a multifaceted female religious participation. In using the feminization of the Diyanet as a prism through which to understand the significance of a renewed presence of Islam in the Turkish public realm, she casts light on a broader reformulation of religious services for women and families in Turkey, and pinpoints how this pervasive moral support has been able to penetrate and reshape even secular spaces.Trade Review'Combining detailed ethnographic observations with an impressive number of in-depth interviews, Maritato's analysis provides insights into the complex dynamics of the feminization of the religious sphere in Turkey and shows how a discourse on modern and learned female religiosity can go hand in hand with policies reinforcing Islamization in the daily work of the female preachers of the Diyanet.' Sevgi Adak, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations, The Aga Khan University'Maritato provides a fascinating and insightful analysis of the role of female preachers of Diyanet in reconstructing the relation between the state and religion in contemporary Turkey. This book is an invaluable resource for those interested in multifaceted relationships between women, religion and state in Turkey.' Hakkı Gűrkaş, Department of History and Philosophy, Kennesaw State University'A fascinating analysis of religion as bureaucracy and the professionalization of traditional religious activity. Turkey's female preachers are civil servants in a state agency that historically managed religion in order to protect secularism, but now insinuates Islamisation from above. Yet in their everyday activities, the female preachers are forging a new religious identity, one that combines piety with a modern working life and redefines the boundaries between state and religion. A must read for anyone who wishes to understand recent enormous changes in Turkish society.' Jenny White, Institute for Turkish Studies, Stockholm University'This is a must-read work on religion, religiosity, society, and the state in contemporary Turkey. Maritato (Univ. of Turin, Italy) provides unique insight into these complex dynamics through in-depth interviews and observations. Highly recommended.' B. A. Yesilada, ChoiceTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Transitivities: Women, Religion and Turkish Secularism: 2. Religion, a state affair; 3. Pious women and the secular state; Part II. Women in the Diyanet: Forms and Meanings: 4. The Diyanet's policies towards women; 5. Vaizeler's invitation: the mosque as a place for women; 6. Achieving public piety through the Vaizeler's sessions; 7. Religious counselling and moral support for women and families; Part III. Reassessing Women, Religion and the State: 8. Listen to the battlefield: female preachers within a secular state; 9. Concluding remarks.

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Book SynopsisReligious freedom is a cherished American value, universal human right, and a Trump administration foreign policy priority. As reported in chapter 1, the State Department has designated Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom. The other countries so designated are Eritrea, Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, and Vietnam. In India's Freedom of Religion Acts or "anti-conversion" laws are state-level statutes that have been enacted to regulate religious conversions. All of the laws seek to prevent any person from converting or attempting to convert, either directly or otherwise, another person through "forcible" or "fraudulent" means, or by "allurement" or "inducement." Despite criticism of India's anti-conversion laws, some human rights bodies have acknowledged that these laws have resulted in few arrests and no convictions. However, some observers note that the laws create a hostile, and on occasion violent, environment for religious minority communities because they do not require any evidence to support accusations of wrongdoing as discussed in chapter 2. Chapter 3 provides an overview of religious freedom issues in India, beginning with a brief review of U.S.-India relations and India's human rights setting broadly, then discussing the country's religious demographics, religious freedom protections, and conceptions of Hindu nationalism and its key institutional proponents in Indian society. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, and it has long been known for its moderate interpretations of Islam. Yet, in recent years, there have been numerous acts of religious intolerance directed against minority religious groups in the country, including Ahmadis, a Muslim sect as reported in chapter 4. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom began reporting on China in the very first annual report, and has continued to do so every year since, because of that country's systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom. As discussed in chapter 5, President Xi Jinping has personally launched efforts to sinicize religion, and the Central Government has issued commands to each Provincial Party Secretary making them responsible to bring religion in line with Communist Party ideology. Chapter 6 examines the right to hold different theological and different ethical and moral positions, even when they go against the prevailing spirit of our age. So long as these views are held and advanced peacefully and do not advocate physical violence that would violate human dignity. Chapter 7 is a copy of the Combating European Anti-Semitism Act of 2017. Chapters 8-12 discuss Supreme Court cases and decisions pertaining to religious freedom.Table of ContentsPrefaceReligious Freedom Violations in the OSCE RegionState Anti-conversion Laws in IndiaIndia: Religious Freedom IssuesReligious Intolerance in IndonesiaChinas War on Christianity and Other Religious FaithsBeyond Tolerance: Faith in the Public SquareCombating European Anti-Semitism Act Of 2017Supreme Court May Reconsider Establishment Clause Jurisprudence in Challenge to Cross Display: Part OneSupreme Court May Reconsider Establishment Clause Jurisprudence in Challenge to Cross Display: Part TwoMasterpiece Cakeshop: Proving Government Hostility to ReligionSupreme Court Vacates Another Opinion Applying Antidiscrimination Laws to Religious ObjectorsNo More Lemon Law? Supreme Court Rethinks Religious Establishment AnalysisIndex.

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Book SynopsisFor a secular age, we have a lot of religious politicians.Theresa May, Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, even Donald Trump all profess Christianity, as did Obama, Brown, Sarkozy, Bush and Blair before them. Indeed, it is striking how many Christian Presidents and Prime Ministers have assumed the global stage over recent years. In spite of Alastair Campbell's oft- (and mis-) quoted line, 'We don't do God', it seems like we definitely do.But how sincere is this faith? Is not much of it simply window-dressing for the electorate, paste-on haloes to calm the moral majority? Conversely, how dangerous is it? If we elect our politicians to do our democratic will, do we really want them praying to God for advice?The Mighty and the Almighty looks at some of the biggest political figures of the past forty years - from Thatcher and Reagan, through Mandela and Clinton, to May and Trump - and looks at how they 'did God'. Did their faith actually shape their politics, and if so, how? Or did their politics shape their faith? And does it matter if it did?In an age when religion is more important on the global stage than anyone would have predicted fifty years ago, this book will tell you everything you want to know, and some things you won't, about how the Mighty get on with the Almighty.

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Book SynopsisThe Arab revolutions of 2011 were a transformative moment in the modern history of the Middle East, as people rose up against long-standing autocrats throughout the region to call for 'bread, freedom and dignity'. With the passage of time, results have been decidedly mixed, with initial success stories like Tunisia contrasting with the emergence of even more repressive dictatorships in places like Egypt, with the backing of several Gulf states. Focusing primarily on Egypt, this book considers a relatively understudied dimension of these revolutions: the role of prominent religious scholars. While pro-revolutionary ulama have justified activism against authoritarian regimes, counter-revolutionary scholars have provided religious backing for repression, and in some cases the mass murder of unarmed protestors. Usaama al-Azami traces the public engagements and religious pronouncements of several prominent ulama in the region, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ali Gomaa and Abdullah bin Bayyah, to explore their role in either championing the Arab revolutions or supporting their repression. He concludes that while a minority of noted scholars have enthusiastically endorsed the counter-revolutions, their approach is attributable less to premodern theology and more to their distinctly modern commitment to the authoritarian state.Trade Review‘[An] important study, the first comprehensive account of its kind’ -- Asian Affairs‘Compelling.’ -- Middle East Policy'Ten years after the Arab Spring, little attention has been given to the important role of religious scholars. Al-Azami's excellent book provides an extensive analysis of a myriad of discourses and political alliances. A must-read for researchers of modern Islam and Middle East studies.' -- Heba Raouf Ezzat, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ibn Haldun University'Literature on the Arab Spring is vast, but a novel perspective and original dimension is rare. Al-Azami's book accomplishes both. He succinctly illustrates that the Arab Revolutions were also an epistemological battle, in which the ulama played a pivotal role. A quintessential read.' -- Wadah Khanfar, former director general of Al Jazeera Media Network and President of the Al Sharq Forum'A comprehensive account and analysis of how the events of the Arab Spring unfolded among the ranks of the ulama. Indispensable for anyone wanting to understand the fault lines which will dominate the Muslim world for years to come.' -- Jonathan A. C. Brown, Professor of Islamic Civilization, Georgetown University

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Book SynopsisReligion plays a central role in a variety of social movements, including many that are not explicitly faith-based. This book provides the first systematic analysis of the ways religion contributes to diverse movements for social change. It draws on a variety of case studies, from the US and globally, to build an argument about religion's distinctive capacity to provide logistical support, to inspire and legitimize activist practices, to connect different spatial scales, and to link big ideas to everyday experiences. The book's analysis rests on three foundational arguments. First and most fundamentally, it is impossible to understand movements for social change without analyzing the multiple ways that religion shapes their ideas, communities, and practices. Second, religion is always in mutually transformative interaction with social and political forces and can never be entirely separated from them. In social movements and in the public sphere more generally, people interpret polit

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Book SynopsisThe role of religious identity in social communities has gained importance in the past few years, as many questions about individual and collective identity have been brought up in the fields of science and everyday life. Religion, despite the process of secularisation, remains an important component of human identity. Increasingly, religion is also becoming an object of political influence. This volume argues that religion actually determinates various phenomena in the political sphere today.

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Book SynopsisThe 2010s saw an introduction of legislative acts about religion, sexuality, and culture in Russia, which caused an uproar of protests. They politicised areas of life commonly perceived as private and expected to be free of the state's control. As a result, political activism and radical grassroots movements engaged many Russians in controversies about religion and culture and polarised popular opinion in the capitals and regions alike. This volume presents seven case studies which probe into the politics of religion and culture in today's Russia. The contributions highlight the diversity of Russia's religious communities and cultural practices by analysing Hasidic Jewish identities, popular culture sponsored by the Orthodox Church, literary mobilisation of the National Bolshevik Party, cinematic narratives of the Chechen wars, militarisation of political Orthodoxy, and moral debates caused by opera as well as film productions. The authors draw on a variety of theoretical approaches and methodologies, including opinion surveys, ethnological fieldwork, narrative analysis, Foucault's conceptualisation of biopower, catachrestic politics, and sociological theories of desecularisation. The volumes contributors are Sanna Turoma, Kaarina Aitamurto, Tomi Huttunen, Susan Ikonen, Boris Knorre, Irina Kotkina, Jussi Lassila, Andrey Makarychev, Elena Ostrovskaya, and Mikhail Suslov.

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