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Scriptures, Shrines, Scapegoats, and World Politics

Religious Sources of Conflict and Cooperation in the Modern Era

Errol A Henderson author Zeev Maoz author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:The University of Michigan Press

Published:16th Mar '20

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Scriptures, Shrines, Scapegoats, and World Politics cover

The effect of religious factors on politics has been a key issue since the end of the Cold War and the subsequent rise of religious terrorism. However, the systematic investigations of these topics have focused primarily on the effects of religion on domestic and international conflict. Scriptures, Shrines, Scapegoats, and World Politics offers a comprehensive evaluation of the role of religion in international relations, broadening the scope of investigation to such topics as the relationship between religion and cooperation, religion and conflict, and the relationship between religion and the quality of life. Religion is often manipulated by political elites to advance their principal goal of political survival. Zeev Maoz and Errol A. Henderson find that no specific religion is either consistently more bellicose or consistently more cooperative than other religions. However, religious similarity between states tends to reduce the propensity of conflict and increase the opportunity for security cooperation. The authors find a significant relationship between secularism and human security.

“This is an important book. The book’s contribution lies particularly in its sophisticated and comprehensive conceptualization and measurement of religious demographics.”
—Isak Svensson, Uppsala University


"While most work has focused on violent conflict, Zeev Maoz & Errol A Henderson analyse a wider scope. This unique, comprehensive study looks at the effects of religion on cooperation and on 'human security', which includes several aspects of development such as socioeconomic well-being, gender equality and civil liberties...The topic is timely and pertinent, and the book is comprehensive and offers much thought-provoking theorizing and many stimulating results – exactly what great scholarship should do." - Matthias Basedau, Journal of Peace Research

* Journal of Peace Resear

ISBN: 9780472131747

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

456 pages