Daniel Philpott

Explaining the Political Ambivalence of Religion

This essay takes on the broad question—what explains the political pursuits of religious actors?—by exploring two powerful influences on these pursuits. The first is differentiation, or the degree of autonomy between religious actors and states in their basic authority. The second is political theology, the set of ideas that religious actors hold about political authority and justice. Through global comparisons across religions, regions, and states, it seeks to establish the effect of both influences on two political pursuits in which religions role is hotly debated today: support for democratization and political violence, including communal violence and terrorism. It concludes with lessons learned commonly from the analysis of both pursuits.

The Catholic Wave

Abstract:Catholicism played an important role in bringing about the third wave of democratization. This was due to a long historical rapprochement through which both church and the democratic state came to tolerate the other. The Church then exercised a direct influence upon democratization in many countries—strongly in Poland, Lithuania, Spain, the Philippines, and Brazil, but weakly in other places, like Argentina. The Church was most likely to exercise a strong influence when it was differentiated from the state—in its governance, in its transnational links, in its domestic alliances, and in its identification with national identity.

In Defense of Self-Determination

This article argues for a qualified right to self-determination, rooted in democratic theory.

Faith-Based Diplomacy: An Ancient Idea Newly Emergent

Abstract Faith-based diplomacy is often practiced by non-state actors, NGO workers, religious leaders, and private citizens. Its religious foundation is adept at solving issues secular diplomacy cannot understand. One example is the reconciliation associated with the Institute for Reconciliation in Srinagar, Kashmir. Acknowledgment of the enemys suffering, apology, forgiveness and reconciliation are found in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Faith-based diplomacy makes it possible to hold conversations about these concepts in a safe environment.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND PEACEBUILDING: MAY I INTRODUCE YOU TWO?

Religious freedom is a critical enabler of peace. Conversely, the lack of religious freedom is a demonstrable cause of violence. Religious freedom, then, ought to be incorporated into the US governments efforts to promote global democracy, the settlement of wars, the reduction of terrorism, and other goals related to peacebuilding. Non-governmental organizations and scholars engaged in peacebuilding ought to integrate religious freedom into their best practices and methodologies as well. Similarly, US government agencies, scholars, and advocacy groups that focus of religious freedom should incorporate the link to peacebuilding into their work.

Religious Freedom in Islam: A Global Landscape

This paper presents a global landscape of religious freedom in Islam, a crucial matter for resolving the contentious contemporary debate over whether Islam is a peaceful or violent religion. The landscape shows a general dearth of religious freedom in Islam. This does not mean, though, that Islam is incompatible with religious freedom, for a large percentage of Muslim countries are governed by regimes inspired by western secularism. The paper also argues that religious freedom is neither synonymous nor co-extensive with electoral democracy. Several democracies with low levels of religious freedom exist in Muslim-majority countries, while authoritarian regimes with relatively high levels of religious freedom exist but are rare.

RECONCILIATION AND IRAQ: FAITH-BASED ADVICE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT

Abstract Iraqi factions are divided by ethnicity, religion, ideology, resentments, hatreds, and desires for revenge rooted in history. The U.S. and Iraq need a jus post bellum, an ethic for building peace in Iraq. This ethic—reconciliation—is a holistic project of six interlocking practices to restore persons, relationships, and political orders. These include just and inclusive structures, acknowledgement, reparations, apology, forgiveness, and accountability. A religious rationale, especially one that overlaps with Islamic values, can increase the legitimacy of U.S. policy in Iraq, andthe next president would do well to heed the resources of religion.

The possibilities of ideas

Judith Goldstein and Robert O. Keohane, eds. Ideas and Foreign Policy: Beliefs, Institutions, and Political Change. Ithaca: Cornell Unviersity Press, 1993. 308 pp./

Response to William Cavanaugh, Mark Juergensmeyer, Jeffrey Haynes and David Martin

14.95 paper. Peter Katzenstein, ed. Culture and Security. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. 560 pp./

IN SEARCH OF THE TWIN TOLERATIONS

49.50 doth;