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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.
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The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations
Culture and Religion in International Relations Series Editors Yosef Lapid and Friedrich Kratochwil Published by Palgrave Macmillan Dialogue Among Civilizations: Some Exemplary Voices By Fred Dallmayr Religion in International Relations: The Return from Exile Edited by Fabio Petito and Pavlos Hatzopoulos Identity and Global Politics: Empirical and Theoretical Elaborations Edited by Patricia M. Goff and Kevin C. Dunn Reason, Culture, Religion: The Metaphysics of World Politics By Ralph Pettman Sustainable Diplomacy: Ecology, Religion, and Ethics in Muslim–Christian Relations By David J. Wellman Bringing Religion into International Relations By Jonathan Fox and Shmuel Sandler The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations By Scott M. Thomas
THE GLOBAL RESURGENCE OF RELIGION AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century
Scott M. Thomas Foreword by Desmond Tutu, former Archbishop of Cape Town, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
THE GLOBAL RESURGENCE OF RELIGION AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
© Scott M. Thomas, 2005. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published in 2005 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™ 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England RG21 6XS Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 1–4039–6112–3 hardback ISBN 1–4039–6157–3 paperback Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Thomas, Scott. The global resurgence of religion and the transformation of international relations / the struggle for the soul of the twenty-first century / Scott Thomas. p. cm.—(Culture and religion in international relations) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1–4039–6112–3—ISBN 1–4039–6157–3 (pbk.) 1. Religion and international affairs. I. Title. II. Series. BL65.I55T46 2005 201⬘.727—dc22
2004057311
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: February 2005 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America.
This book is dedicated to the memory of Albert J. Lutuli (1898–1967), former President of the African National Congress of South Africa, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, to the memory of Beyers Naude (1915–2004), Afrikaner rebel and prophet, South African patriot, and global Christian, and to my parents, Beatrice and Marshall Thomas, for their love, suppo