This book has several main themes and arguments. International Relations has been westerncentric, which has contributed to its ignoring religion; while religion is not the main driving force behind IR, international politics cannot be understood without taking religion into account; the role of religion is related to the fact that IR has evolved to become more than just interstate relations and now included elements of domestic politics. The book proceeds in three stages. First, it looks at why religion was ignored by IR theory and theorists. Second, it examines the multiple ways religion influences IR, including through religious legitimacy and the many ways domestic religious issues can cross borders. In this discussion a number of topics including but not limited to international intervention, international organizations, religious fundamentalism, political Islam, Samuel Huntington's 'clash of civilizations' theory, and terrorism are addressed. Third, these factors are examined empirically using both quantitative and case study methodology.

Autorentext

JONATHAN FOX received his PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in 1997 and is currently a Lecturer in the Political Studies Department of Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. His research interests include the role of religion in conflict, international relations and politics, as well as issues of separation of religion and state. He has published numerous articles on these topics in journals as well as his recent book Ethnoreligious Conflict in the Late Twentieth Century. SHMUEL SANDLER is Professor of Political Science and International Politics, and he holds the Sara and Simha Lainer Chair in Democracy and Civility at Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. He authored and edited over ten books and over fifty articles that appeared in professional journals and edited books. His recent research concentrates on ethnic politics and international relations.

Inhalt

Introduction The Overlooked Dimension Religion and Legitimacy Local Religious Conflicts are Transnational Issues Transnational Religious Phenomena The "Clash of Civilizations" Debate The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Case Study of Religion and International Politics Toward a Theory of International Relations and Religion