The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century (Culture and Religion in International Relations)

This book is about the global resurgence of culture and religion in international relations, and how these social changes are transforming our understanding of International Relation theory, and the key policy-related issue areas in world politics. It is evident in the on-going debates over the 'root causes' of 9/11 that there are many scholars, journalists and members of the public who still believe culture and religion can be explained away by appeals to more 'basic' economic, social or political forces in society. Therefore The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations presents an argument for taking culture - and particularly religion - as social forces that are important for understanding world politics in the post-Westphalian era. This Book Is About The Global Resurgence Of Culture And Religion In International Relations, How These Social Changes Are Transforming Our Understanding Of Ir Theory, And Some Of The Key Policy-related Issue Areas In World Politics. It Is Evident In The On-going Debates Over The 'root Causes' Of The Tragic Events Of 11 September That There Are Many Scholars, Journalists, And Members Of The Public, Who Still Believe Culture And Religion Can Be Explained Away By Appeals To More 'basic' Economic, Social, Or Political Forces In Society. Therefore, This Book Presents An Argument For Taking Culture - And, Particularly, Religion - As Social Forces That Are Important For Understanding World Politics In The Post-westphalian Era. The Scope Of This Book Is Broader Than Religious Extremism Or Fundamentalism Because Of The Importance Of The Second Aspect Of The Global Resurgence Of Religion: It Is Occurring Not Only In Countries With Different Cultures And Religions, But Also In Countries With Different Levels Of Economic Development. If This Is The Case, Then The Global Resurgence Of Religion Can Not Be Explained Away As A Reactionary Protest Against Modernization, Nor As A Feature Of World Poverty Caused By Globalization. Instead, It Should Be Interpreted As A Part Of A Cultural, More Wide-ranging, Crisis Of Modernity In Both The Western Industrialized Countries And In The Developing World. --from Publisher's Description. Introduction : The Struggle For The Soul Of The Twenty-first Century -- Pt. 1. Bringing Religion Back Into International Relations Theory. The Revenge Of God? : The Twentieth Century As The Last Modern Century -- Blind Spots And Blowback : Why Culture And Religion Were Marginalized In International Relations Theory -- In The Eye Of The Storm : Explaining And Understanding Culture And Religion In International Relations -- The Soul Of The World? : Religious Non-state Actors And International Relations Theory -- Pt. 2. The Substantive Issues In International Relations. Wars And Rumors Of War? : Religion And International Conflict -- Creating A Just And Durable Peace : Rethinking Religion And International Cooperation -- Soulcraft As Statecraft? : Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, And Peacebuilding -- Funding Virtue? : Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, And Democracy -- When Faith And Economics Meet? : Rethinking Religion, Civil Society And International Development -- Conclusion : How Shall We Then Live? Scott Thomas ; Foreword By Desmond Tutu. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [251]-291) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Introduction: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century......Page 18 PART ONE: BRINGING RELIGION BACK INTO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY......Page 36 1 “The Revenge of God?”: The Twentieth Century as the “Last Modern Century”......Page 38 2 Blind Spots and Blowback: Why Culture and Religion were Marginalized in International Relations Theory......Page 64 3 In the Eye of the Storm: Explaining and Understanding Culture and Religion in International Relations......Page 88 4 The Soul of the World? Religious Non-State Actors and International Relations Theory......Page 114 PART TWO: THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS......Page 136 5 Wars and Rumors of War? Religion and International Conflict......Page 138 6 “Creating a Just and Durable Peace”: Rethinking Religion and International Cooperation......Page 166 7 Soulcraft as Statecraft? Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding......Page 190 8 Funding Virtue? Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, and Democracy......Page 214 9 Where Faith and Economics Meet? Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, and International Development......Page 236 Conclusion: How Shall We then Live?......Page 264 Notes......Page 268 C......Page 310 E......Page 311 I......Page 312 L......Page 313 P......Page 314 R......Page 315 V......Page 316 Z......Page 317 Cover 1 Contents 8 Foreword 10 Preface 12 Introduction: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century 18 PART ONE: BRINGING RELIGION BACK INTO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY 36 1 “The Revenge of God?”: The Twentieth Century as the “Last Modern Century” 38 2 Blind Spots and Blowback: Why Culture and Religion were Marginalized in International Relations Theory 64 3 In the Eye of the Storm: Explaining and Understanding Culture and Religion in International Relations 88 4 The Soul of the World? Religious Non-State Actors and International Relations Theory 114 PART TWO: THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 136 5 Wars and Rumors of War? Religion and International Conflict 138 6 “Creating a Just and Durable Peace”: Rethinking Religion and International Cooperation 166 7 Soulcraft as Statecraft? Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding 190 8 Funding Virtue? Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, and Democracy 214 9 Where Faith and Economics Meet? Rethinking Religion, Civil Society, and International Development 236 Conclusion: How Shall We then Live? 264 Notes 268 Index 310 A 310 B 310 C 310 D 311 E 311 F 312 G 312 H 312 I 312 J 313 K 313 L 313 M 314 N 314 O 314 P 314 Q 315 R 315 S 316 T 316 U 316 V 316 W 317 Z 317 The current global resurgence of religion is more wide ranging than a clash of civilizations driven by religious extremism, terrorism, or fundamentalism. This global cultural and religious shift is challenging our interpretation of the modern world--what it means to be modern--as a variety of social and religious groups struggle to find alternative paths to modernity. This book examines what this means for the key concepts and theories of international relations--international conflict and cooperation, diplomacy, the promotion of civil society, democracy, nation-building, and economic development-and how it is transforming them. The book serves as a guide for what it means to take cultural and religious pluralism seriously in the twenty-first century. The concept of religion was invented as part of the political mythology of liberalism and now has emerged as a universal concept applicable to other cultures and civilizations.