Religion and Contemporary Politics: A Global Encyclopedia [2 volumes]

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Description

With respect to the countries of the world, this work addresses two basic questions: "How does religion affect politics in this country" and "How does politics affect religion in this country" Although there are many books on the topics of religion and politics, reference works that consider the two together are few, with those that do exist primarily addressing theory rather than trends. The present work does the latter, contextualizing them within regional and national boundaries. In so doing, it recognizes the power of political and religious ideas and movements on individuals, communities, and nations, making the work a valuable resource for several disciplines, among them political science, international relations, religion, and sociology. The work focuses on the interplay of religion and politics in countries around the world with an emphasis on the post-2000s. It is organized by global geographic regions including Africa, Central and South America, and the Middle East and presents countries alphabetically within those sections. Each region has a brief overview of the political-religious dynamics of the area so readers can compare and contrast the dynamics between and among countries in a region. The work also includes an introduction, sidebars, and a bibliography.

Reviews

Demonstrating that the relationship between religion and politics is complex, evolving, and often contentious, this well-researched and informative work offers a thorough overview and wonderful starting point for advanced high school students, undergraduates, and interested nonspecialists. * Library Journal *
High school libraries will find this a useful and level-appropriate resource for students. * Booklist *

Author Bio

Timothy J. Demy, ThD, PhD, is professor of military ethics at the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI. He is author and editor of numerous journal articles and books on ethics, theology, religion, and security. Jeffrey M. Shaw is professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College. He has a PhD from Salve Regina University and is author or coeditor of several books.