1. A theory of religion and nationalism; 2. United States: stable civil-religious nationalism; 3. Israel: unstable civil-religious nationalism; 4. Greece: stable religious nationalism; 5. Malaysia: unstable religious nationalism; 6. Uruguay: stable secular nationalism; 7. India: unstable secular nationalism; 8. Pitfalls and opportunities on the religious path to nationalism; Bibliography; Index.
Offers a new framework for understanding how religion and nationalism interact across diverse countries and religious traditions.
J. Christopher Soper is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Pepperdine University, Malibu. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University, Connecticut and his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. Joel S. Fetzer is Frank R. Seaver Professor of Social Science and Professor of Political Science at Pepperdine University, Malibu. A graduate of Cornell University and Yale University, he specializes in religion and politics and in migration studies.
'The resurgence of nationalisms, usually populist, often religious,
and all too often authoritarian, is central to global politics
today. Soper and Fetzer, already distinguished scholars of
religion, immigration, and political identities, have now produced
a seminal theory of how and why religion and nationalism are
related in distinct ways in different societies. It will have both
an immediate and enduring impact.' Rogers M. Smith, Christopher H.
Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of
Pennsylvania
'The best comparative and historical investigation to date of the
complex and varied relationship between religion and nationalism in
the modern era. Lucidly written and carefully researched, this book
is a must-read for any social scientist or historian working on
religion and politics today.' Philip Gorski, Yale University,
Connecticut
'Distinguished scholars of religion and politics J. Christopher
Soper and Joel S. Fetzer have produced a characteristically sober
and illuminating treatment of a global issue of the first
importance: the nexus of religion and nationalism, a relationship
that is increasingly fraught in America and around the world. Soper
and Fetzer combine theoretical sophistication and empirical depth
and range to demonstrate that this relationship assumes many more
forms - including stable and liberal forms - than the usual
simplistic dichotomy of religious vs. secular nationalism assumes.
This book will now be the essential guide to the global politics of
religion and nationalism, not only for scholars but for the lay
public as well.' Timothy Samuel Shah, Director for International
Research, Religious Freedom Research Project, Georgetown
University, Washington DC
'This important work unpacks the critical and complex relationship
between religion and nationalism. With six case studies ranging
across multiple regions of the world, Fetzer and Soper enable us to
better understand the interaction between religion and nationalism,
and the impact varied patterns have on political and social
outcomes.' Carolyn M. Warner, Arizona State University
'Religion and Nationalism in Global Perspective is an
outstanding achievement in the comparative-historical study of
multiple secularities across various regions and religions. Soper
and Fetzer do not present a merely ideological account of the
religion-nationalism nexus, as is too often the case. They deliver
a rigorous narrative focusing also on law and
institutions, demographics, and various contentions that impact
this contingent relationship.' Review of Religious Studies
'Overall, this text is necessary reading for any scholar interested
in religion and nationalism … this text would fit perfectly in
graduate courses across the social sciences on cross-national
religion, politics and religion, or nationalism writ large.' Andrew
L. Whitehead, Sociology of Religion
'The book is well researched and thorough … The book is highly
recommended, and hopefully students of religion and politics will
make use of the authors' model and thoughts on many more
countries.' Margit Warburg, Journal of Church and State
'This book is well written, offers a cogent argument, and makes use
of multiple methodologies to lend credence to its claims … a
praiseworthy achievement that many works have been unable to offer
so succinctly while covering such a wide terrain.' Allyson F.
Shortle, Politics and Religion
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