Description
Book SynopsisReligion and nationalism are two of the most powerful forces in the world. And as powerful as they are separately, humans throughout history have fused religious beliefs and nationalist politics to develop religious nationalism, which uses
religious identity to define membership in the
national community. But why and how have modern nationalists built religious identity as the foundational signifier of national identity in what sociologists have predicted would be a more secular world? This book takes two cases - nationalism in both Ireland and Turkey in the 20th century - as a foundation to advance a new theory of religious nationalism. By comparing cases, Goalwin emphasizes how modern political actors deploy religious identity as a boundary that differentiates national groups This theory argues that religious nationalism is
not a knee-jerk reaction to secular modernization, but a powerful movement developed as a tool that forges new and independent national identities.
Trade Review"In an age where religious nationalisms and populisms are on the rise, Goalwin's comparative-historical work is a welcome contribution for comprehending how religious identities and politics interact. A valuable source for social scientists as well as non-specialists who are interested in this complex phenomenon." -- Efe Peker * co-author of Challenging Neoliberalism at Turkey’s Gezi Park: From Private Discontent to Collective Action *
"In an age where religious nationalisms and populisms are on the rise, Goalwin's comparative-historical work is a welcome contribution for comprehending how religious identities and politics interact. A valuable source for social scientists as well as non-specialists who are interested in this complex phenomenon." -- Efe Peker * co-author of Challenging Neoliberalism at Turkey’s Gezi Park: From Private Discontent to Collective *
Table of Contents1 Borders and Boundaries of the Nation: Constructing a Theory of Religious Nationalism
2 The Gospel of Irish Nationalism: Religion and Official Discourses of the Nation in Ireland
3 Religion on the Ground: Everyday Catholicism and National Identity in Ireland
4 Constructing the New Nation: Official Nationalism and Religious Homogenization in the Republic of Turkey
5 Religion and Nation Are One: Lived Experience and Everyday Religion on the Ground in Turkey
6 Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
