The International Politics of Religion
| Module title | The International Politics of Religion |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL3080 |
| Academic year | 2022/3 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Gregorio Bettiza (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
The ‘death of god’ was proclaimed by Friedrich Nietzsche in the nineteenth century and modernization theorists in the twentieth. Yet the twenty-first century opened with the 2001, September 11, attacks on American soil by a group of fanatics claiming to be guided by religious principles. One does not have to look exclusively at these extreme cases to see that religions have not only survived, but their social and political salience is growing in the contemporary world. All across the globe, religious actors, beliefs, identities, communities, symbols, practices and places of worship have become ever more entangled with domestic and international politics. These developments raise a number of questions that this module addresses: Why has this happened? What tools do we have, as social scientists and students of international relations, to understand religion and its apparent resurgence? How does religion influence, and is itself influenced by, world politics?
There are no pre-requisite or co-requisite modules required to take this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module will introduce you to the complex role of religion in international relations. In the first part of the module you will explore how the social sciences in general and the discipline of international relations in particular have conceptualized and theorized religion and its resurgence in world politics. In the second part you will examine how religion interacts with key international challenges and issues such nationalism, the state, transnational politics and identities, violence, peace and democracy. In the third part you will investigate and assess the emerging trend towards ‘operationalizing’ religion in international policymaking.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a critical perspective on a variety of theoretical approaches and debates on the study of religion in the social sciences;
- 2. Evaluate the multiple and complex ways in which religion and international politics influence each other in historical and contemporary contexts;
- 3. Assess the social, political, policy and normative tensions raised by the growing trend towards the operationalization of religion in foreign and international policy;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand a variety of theoretical arguments in the field of religion in international relations;
- 5. Analyse empirical research and cases on religion in world politics;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Engage in respectful and critical dialogue within a group setting;
- 7. Conduct research independently and as part of a team, and present ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and oral form; and
- 8. Exercise critical judgment when analysing complex conceptual, empirical, policy and normative issues.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Part I: Concepts and Theories
- Introduction
- Understanding Religion and Secularism
- Religious Resurgence, Post-secularism and Multiple Modernities
- Religion in IR: Realism and Liberalism
- Religion in IR: Constructivism
- Religion in IR: Critical Approaches
- Debate
Part II: Issues and Challenges
- Religion, Sovereignty, State and Nation
- Transnational Religious Actors, Networks and Identities
- Religion, Violence and Security
- Clash of Civilizations: Myth or Reality?
- Religion, Peace, Justice and Conflict-resolution
- Religion, Liberalism and Democracy
- Debate
Part III: Policies and Practices
- Religion and Foreign Policy
- Religious Engagement
- International Religious Freedom
- Faith-Based Humanitarianism and Development
- The War on Terror and Countering Violent Extremism
- Revision and Reflection
- Debate
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 44 | 22 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 80 | Seminar preparation: complete assigned reading and other possible tasks |
| Guided Independent Study | 140 | Essay preparation: reading, conducting research, and writing the finished product |
| Guided Independent Study | 36 | Presentation preparation: reading, conducting research, and written and oral preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar exercises and discussion | 22 x 1 hours | 1-8 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 40 | 3,500 words | 1-5, 7-8 | Written |
| Essay 2 | 40 | 3,500 words | 1-5, 7-8 | Written |
| Group Presentation | 20 | 20 minutes | 1-8 | Oral and written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 (40%) | 3,500 word essay | 1-5, 7-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 (40%) | 3,500 word essay | 1-5, 7-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Presentation (20%) | Individual written assignment, 1,500 words | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Calhoun, Craig J., Juergensmeyer, Mark, and VanAntwerpen, Jonathan (eds.) (2011), Rethinking Secularism (Oxford, N.Y.: Oxford University Press)
Haynes, Jeffrey (ed.), (2016), Routledge handbook of religion and politics (2nd edn., Abingdon: Routledge).
Hurd, Elizabeth Shakman (2008), The Politics of Secularism in International Relations (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press)
Sandal, Nukhet A. and Fox, Jonathan (2013), Religion in International Relations Theory: Interactions and Possibilities (Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge)
Shah, Timoty Samuel, Stepan, Alfred, and Toft, Monica Duffy (eds.) (2012), Rethinking Religion and World Affairs (New York: Oxford University Press).
Snyder, Jack (ed.), (2011), Religion and International Relations Theory (New York, NY: Columbia University Press).
Toft, Monica Duffy, Philpott, Daniel, and Shah, Timothy Samuel (2011), God's Century: Resurgent Religion and Global Politics (New York, NY: W.W. Norton).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Georgetown University Berkley Centre For Religion Peace and World Affairs: http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/programs
Council on Foreign Relations Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative: http://www.cfr.org/about/outreach/religioninitiative/index.html
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life: http://www.pewforum.org/
The Immanent Frame: https://tif.ssrc.org/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 10/06/2014 |
| Last revision date | 08/09/2020 |
