About the Book
This Handbook breaks new ground by addressing global security through the lens of religion and the role religion plays in both war and peace. There has been a considerable upsurge of public concern about the role of religion in contemporary violence. However, other than historical materials, there has been a relative neglect of the subject of religion and security. The academic disciplines of anthropology, sociology, political science, international relations, geography, and economics have surprisingly little emphasis on this subject. There are two major exceptions: (1) military studies that focus on just war and justice in war studies to better inform policy, and (2) religious enclaves studying war-related issues from sectarian (and generally theological) perspectives. For the past ten years, people have tried with great passion but little attention to 'universals' to explain 'religious violence', i.e. Islamic radicalism, Christian genocide, Buddhist nationalism, and Hindu riots. The general approach has been that of comparative theologies, which has provoked a lot of debate. But theology, like ideology, is short on being able to predict behaviour.
In other words, the discussion of religion and violence must include, but not be restricted to, theology. Ideas matter but what we are trying to explain is behaviour -- behaviour(s) associated in some way with religious beliefs and power. That power can be approached as resources, interpersonal, cultural, and social expertise. This Handbook fills the gap for a comprehensive volume which combines theory and with contemporary case studies. The themes and issues covered by this Handbook will provide information and insight into the role of religion in contemporary war in the global environment covering all of the world's major religions, forms of warfare and contributions to peace. This book will be of great interest to students of religion, security studies, war and conflict studies and IR in general.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction, Chris Seiple, Dennis R. Hoover, and Pauletta Otis Section I: World Religions and Security 2. Dichotomous Jewish Understandings of Security: Historical Origins and Contemporary Expressions, Stuart A. Cohen 3. Eastern Orthodoxy and the Fusion of National and Spiritual Security, Christopher Marsh 4. Catholic Approaches to Security and Peace, Gerard F. Powers 5. Always Reforming: Protestantism and International Security, Robert Joustra 6. Shi’a Muslims and Security: The Centrality of Iran, Max L. Gross 7. Islam and Security: A Sunni Perspective, Qibla Ayaz and Rashid Ahmad 8. Hinduism and Security: A Hierarchy of Protection, Torkel Brekke 9. All Shall Abide in Peace, Prosperity, and Justice: Sikhism and Security, Pashaura Singh 10. The Protection of Dharma and Dharma as Protection: Buddhism and Security across Asia, Iselin Frydenlund Section II: Security Studies and Religion 11. Religion, War, and Peace: Leavening the Levels of Analysis, Eric Patterson 12. Religion and Security in International Relations Theories, Stacey Gutkowski 13. Religion, Nationalism, and International Security: Creation Myths and Social Mechanisms, Philip S. Gorski and Gülay Türkmen Dervişoğlu 14. Women, Religion, and Security: Islamic Feminism on the Frontlines of Change, Isobel Coleman 15. Spiritual Values, Sustainable Security, and Conflict Resolution, Jamie Price and Andrea Bartoli 16. Religion and Public Opinion on Security: A Comparative Perspective, James L. Guth 17. State Religion and State Repression, Jonathan Fox 18. Human Security: A Secularized Social Gospel and the Rediscovery of Religion, James K. Wellman, Jr. 19. Religion, Media, and Security, Lee Marsden and Heather Savigny Section III: Case Studies 20. Religion and Security in Nigeria, John Campbell 21. Religion, Communalism, and Security in Post-independence India, Ainslie Thomas Embree 22. Religion and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Dov Waxman 23. Religion and (In)Security in the Former Yugoslavia, Paul B. Mojzes 24. The Religious Initiative for National Reconciliation in Iraq, 2006-2007, Micheal A. Hoyt
About the Author :
Chris Seiple is President of the Institute for Global Engagement, a research, education, and diplomatic institution in Washington, DC, that builds sustainable religious freedom worldwide through local partnerships. He is a frequent media commentator and speaker on religion and security, and is co-author with H. Knox Thames and Amy Rowe of International Religious Freedom Advocacy (2009).
Dennis R. Hoover is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Institute for Global Engagement and Editor of The Review of Faith & International Affairs. He is co-editor with Douglas Johnston of Religion and Foreign Affairs: Essential Readings (2012).
Pauletta Otis is Professor of Security Studies at Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA. A prolific author and speaker on religion and security, she has served as a member of the Defense Intelligence Advisory Board and in numerous other advisory positions in U.S. national security.
Review :
'Overall, the handbook offers readers a broad overview of many of the key aspects of the religion-security nexus, it clarifies many theological themes and concepts encountered in the analyzed world religions that were and could be employed for both peace and war. The handbook also presents a diverse body of historical as well as empirical material, and as such it represents an essential reference source for academics, students of international relations, policy-makers, media professionals and the general reader as well.' - Natalia Vlas, e-International Relations, April 2013
'This book is a very timely publication. It covers several ethnoreligious crises as they affect governance, development, politics and security of different countries and becomes global challenges. The authors’ views are scholarly and germane to world peace.' - Oladosu Olusegun Adebolu, Obafemi Awolowo University, International Journal for Religious Freedom
'All of the authors have written exciting and insightful articles, based on their own and other qualitative research; and their bibliographies offer the reader the opportunity to read more on the topics that pique his or her interest. This book is a rich source for anyone interested in or concerned with religion and security.' - W. Smit
