L2430: Analysing Religion and Politics

Defying the predictions of secularization theory regarding the decline of religion in the modern world, religion is resurfacing in global affairs. The impact of faith upon politics is evident in the 1979 revolution in Iran, in the subsequent, ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East and their implications for international security, in the Catholic Church’s contribution to democratization efforts in Latin America and Eastern Europe, in the religious dimension of recent electoral results in the USA, and in the role of Christian actors in current debates on Islam in the EU. The class introduces students to the systematic study of these phenomena mainly using a quantitative methods perspective. Qualitative approaches are also considered. We will examine religion’s role in politics across cultures, states and regions. The seminar is about the empirical application of relevant theoretical frameworks.

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