Wednesday, December 2, 2009

W E B Du Bois or The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations

W. E. B. Du Bois: Writings (The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade, The Souls of Black Folk, Dusk of Dawn, Essays)

Author: W E B Du Bois

The library of America is dedicated to publishing America's best and most significant writing in handsome, enduring volumes, featuring authoritative texts. Hailed as the "finest-looking, longest-lasting editions ever made" (The New Republic), Library of America volumes make a fine gift for any occasion. Now, with exactly one hundred volumes to choose from, there is a perfect gift for everyone.



Read also Rich Dads Guide to Becoming Rich Without Cutting Up Your Credit Cards or Currency Trading for Dummies

The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century (Culture and Religion in International Relations Series)

Author: Scott M Thomas

"Here undoubtedly is a book that is both helpful and insightful for those of us who feel there has got to be a better way to promote global security and global welfare,"--from the foreword by Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Laureate"Scott Thomas' work should be read not only by scholars interested in international relations and development, but also by leaders in civil society - in the NGO's, in the corporations, and in the churches. We neglect religious factors in contemporary history to our great peril. One may quibble with his treatment of certain theorists of "modernity," but he sees key global trends clearly, and argues artfully for policies could correct today's intellectual and moral blinders."--Max L. Stackhouse, Rimmer and Ruth DeVries Professor of Theology and Public Life, Princeton Theological Seminary, Author/editor of the series, God and Globalization"Post Cold War and post 9/11 politics have witnessed the global resurgence of religion, nationalism and ethnic identity and underscored the failure of international relations theory to anticipate and adequately address the role of religion and culture. Scott Thomas' The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations is a powerful corrective, demonstrating how and why religion and culture are significant forces world politics that have transformed our understanding of IR theory." --John L. Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University and author of Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam"The Global Resurgence of Religion is a vital topic on which mainstream international relations research has been oddly silent. In clear andmeasured prose Scott Thomas explicates the reason for our intellectual failures and develops an original, eclectic perspective that gives new relevance to the constructivist turn in international relations theory. More importantly, Thomas succeeds in illustrating empirically how and why religion matters in world politics. For those interested in regaining their voice on a crucial topic in world politics this book is essential reading."--Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter Professor, Jr. of International Studies, Cornell University"To the surprise of most academics and many politicians, religion has become one of the most dynamic forces in 21st century world politics. Scott Thomas's insightful analysis of this phenomenon fills a gaping hole in international relations theory and should help policy-makers and thoughtful citizens alike think more clearly about the ways in which profound religious and moral convictions can help build a measure of order in world affairs."--George Weigel, Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Foreign Affairs

The global resurgence of religion has been widely noted, and this book provides a thoughtful reflection on its implications for Western ideas about modernity and international relations. The conventional view is that the upsurge in fundamentalism, particularly in the Middle East, reflects a stalled transition to modernity, giving militants an ideological kinship with previous antiliberal and antimodernist movements. Thomas, in contrast, asserts that the revival of religion — including among evangelicals and fundamentalist Christians in the developed world — is part of a more wide-ranging global phenomenon that represents a crisis of modernity itself. The grand narrative of Western progress is under challenge, and a search for "authenticity" is underway inside and outside the West, with communities of the faithful seeking to refashion political life in line with moral and religious values. This provocative claim is never convincingly established, but Thomas' more general point is well taken: Western scholars and policymakers need to rethink how the potent mix of religion, nationalism, and globalization is wreaking havoc on old traditions of diplomacy, development, and Western hegemony and transforming international affairs in the process.



Table of Contents:
Introduction : the struggle for the soul of the twenty-first century1
1"The revenge of God?" : the twentieth century as the "last modern century"21
2Blind spots and blowback : why culture and religion were marginalized in international relations theory47
3In the eye of the storm : explaining and understanding culture and religion in international relations71
4The soul of the world? : religious non-state actors and international relations theory97
5Wars and rumors of war? : religion and international conflict121
6"Creating a just and durable peace" : rethinking religion and international cooperation149
7Soulcraft as statecraft? : diplomacy, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding173
8Funding virtue? : rethinking religion, civil society, and democracy197
9Where faith and economics meet? : rethinking religion, civil society, and international development219
Conclusion : how shall we then live?247

No comments:

Post a Comment