A Companion to Religion, Politics, and Nations

A groundbreaking framework examining the role of religion in national and global political spheres
A Companion to Religion, Politics, and Nation is an essential resource for understanding the profound and evolving interactions between religion, politics, and the concept of the nation. Unlike conventional approaches that treat religion as an ideological outlier in political systems, this innovative volume centers the nation as a transformative force on religious identities and political dynamics. Through a multidisciplinary lens that draws from political science, anthropology, history, and religious studies, a diverse panel of scholars illuminates how national communities continuously reshape intersections between civic morality, political power, and collective religious identity.
The Companion spans diverse historical periods and religious traditions while addressing urgent contemporary issues such as multiculturalism, race and ethnicity, gender rights, and the globalization of religious communities. By breaking down traditional dichotomies-such as the assumption that religion's political presence is abnormal or isolates domestic from international influences-the Companion offers a novel analytical framework to navigate these complex interactions. In-depth chapters synthesize and critique leading theories, bridge critical gaps in existing scholarship, and present comparative case studies that explore both well-studied and underrepresented regions and contexts.
With a focus on pluralism, tolerance, and post-national dynamics, A Companion to Religion, Politics, and Nation: - Offers a fresh perspective on the global reconfiguration of religion's role in modern politics - Examines the impact of national communities on religious practices and political behaviors - Provides critical analysis of the relationship between domestic and international politics - Features comprehensive case studies and cutting-edge research contributions
A Companion to Religion, Politics, and Nation is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in political science, religious studies, anthropology, and history. It is also a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and policymakers working in the fields of religion, governance, and international relations.

Jocelyne Cesari is the Chair of Religion and Politics at the University of Birmingham (UK), Research Professor at Ben Gurion University in the Neguev, and a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. From 2018 to 2024, she was the inaugural T. J. Dermot Dunphy Professor of Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding at Harvard Divinity School. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs and the Royal Society for Arts in the United Kingdom. Her most recent book is We God's Nations: Political Christianity, Islam and Hinduism in the World of Nations (2022).