Religious NGOs in International Relations: The Construction of 'the Religious' and 'the Secular' (Routledge Studies in Religion and Politics)

Over the last 30 years, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become increasingly present in international discourses and ​active in international decision-making. Among the estimated several million NGOs in existence today, an increasingly visible number of organizations are defining themselves in religious terms – referring to themselves as "religious", "spiritual", or "faith-based" NGOs. This book documents the initial encounters between the particularly international segment of those organizations and the UN while at the same time covering the Protestant and Catholic spectrum that dominated the early years of their activities in the UN-context. This book focuses on the construction of the human rights discourse inside two religiously affiliated organizations: The Commissions of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) and Pax Romana (IMCS / ICMICA). These organizations have been formally accredited as NGOs by the UN, label themselves as religious, and look back upon a long and intense cooperation with the UN. Lehmann presents material from the archives of those two organizations that has so far rarely been used for academic analysis. In doing so, as well as documenting the encounters between those organizations and the UN, and looking at the Protestant and Catholic spectrum, the book provides new insights into the very construction of the notions of ‘the religious’ and the ‘secular’ inside those organizations. This work will be of great interest to all students of religion and international relations, and will also be of interest to those studying related subjects such as global institutions, comparative politics and international politics. Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 1 Looking into the black box of religiously affiliated organizations 12 1.1 Systematic focus on transnational religiously affiliated organizations 14 1.2 Empirical focus on RNGOs in the context of the UN 19 1.3 Main argument: trend towards Civil Society Activism 22 2 Resurgence debates, revisited 30 2.1 Manifold concepts of a resurgence of religions 31 2.3 On the analytical basis of the ‘secularization paradigm’ 37 2.4 Religious Non-governmental Organizations in the context of the UN 44 3 Methodical and methodological layout of the analyses 56 3.1 Development of the research process 57 3.2 Sociology of knowledge approach to discourse 59 3.3 Construction of the corpus of data and analysis of data 61 3.4 Analysis of the data 63 4 Religions and human rights in the context of the UN 70 4.1 The context of the United Nations organization (UN) 70 4.2 Human rights in the context of the UN 74 4.3 Religions in the context of the UN 78 4.4 Accredited RNGOs in the context of the UN 81 5 Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) 91 5.1 Foundation of the commission – churches in world order (1946–1948) 93 5.2 Between UN and WCC – expanding religious freedom (1948–1955) 100 5.3 Enforced legitimation – search for an ecumenical contribution (1955–1965) 107 5.4 A new generation – mainstreaming human rights (1965–1974) 115 5.5 Summary: from diplomats of the churches to proponents of human rights 125 6 Pax Romana (ICMICA/IMCS) 131 6.1 A worldwide lay organization – vanguard for peace (1946–1950) 133 6.2 Profiling in a multi-polar context – Roman Catholic human rights (1951–1964) 144 6.3 Integration in the NGO community – liberation and human rights (1965–1977) 154 6.4 From proponents of a lay vanguard to human rights activist 162 7 Worldwide trend towards activism 174 7.1 Bringing the case analyses together 174 7.2 Comparing to a wider context 181 7.3 A worldwide trend towards activism 184 8 A re-evaluation of the resurgence debates 186 8.1 Trends inside religiously affiliated organizations 187 8.2 Understanding of resurgence debates 191 8.3 A new perspective for the analysis of present-day religions 195 8.4 Perspectives on future research 198 9 Bibliography 203 Index 222 The Construction of 'the Religious' and 'the Secular' Over The Last 30 Years, Non-governmental Organizations (ngos) Have Become Increasingly Present In International Discourses And Active In International Decision-making. Among The Estimated Several Million Ngos In Existence Today, An Increasingly Visible Number Of Organizations Are Defining Themselves In Religious Terms – Referring To Themselves As Religious, Spiritual, Or Faith-based Ngos. This Book Documents The Initial Encounters Between The Particularly International Segment Of Those Organizations And The Un While At The Same Time Covering The Protestant And Catholic Spectrum That Dominated The Early Years Of Their Activities In The Un-context. This Book Focuses On The Construction Of The Human Rights Discourse Inside Two Religiously Affiliated Organizations: The Commissions Of The Churches On International Affairs (ccia) And Pax Romana (imcs / Icmica). These Organizations Have Been Formally Accredited As Ngos By The Un, Label Themselves As Religious, And Look Back Upon A Long And Intense Cooperation With The Un. Lehmann Presents Material From The Archives Of Those Two Organizations That Has So Far Rarely Been Used For Academic Analysis. In Doing So, As Well As Documenting The Encounters Between Those Organizations And The Un, And Looking At The Protestant And Catholic Spectrum, The Book Provides New Insights Into The Very Construction Of The Notions Of ‘the Religious’ And The ‘secular’ Inside Those Organizations. -- Publisher's Website. Looking Into The Black Box Of Religiously Affiliated Organizations -- Resurgence Debates, Revisited -- Methodical And Methodological Layout Of The Analyses -- Religions And Human Rights In The Context Of The Un -- Commission Of The Churches On International Affairs (ccia) -- Pax Romana (icmica / Imcs) -- Worldwide Trend Towards Activism 8. A Re-evaluation Of The Resurgence Debates. Karsten Lehmann. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.