Religion and Politics are two areas that have significant impact on human life. The relationship between religion and politics is complex and multifaceted, and it can vary significantly across different cultures, societies, and historical periods. This area of our graduate program investigates the complex relationship between religion and politics, expressed through ideas and narratives, embodied in practice, and visible through institutions.
Students can engage this specialization in a variety of ways including but not limited to human rights and religious freedoms; religious influences on policy; how religious organizations and leaders play pivotal roles in social and political movements for justice, equality, and human rights; issues relating to identity and nationalism; secularism and pluralism; or conflict and cooperation. In an era of globalization, the relationship between religion and politics is not confined within national borders. Transnational religious movements can influence global politics, and political decisions in one part of the world can have ripple effects on religious communities worldwide. When describing the relationship between religion and politics, it is crucial to consider these nuances and recognize that the dynamic between the two is not static but evolves over time and across different contexts.
Scholars in our department consider the relationship between religion and politics through a focus on historical and contemporary issues in South Asia, through Muslim reformism in Africa, and by investigating climate change and environmentalism.
Faculty in this area are affiliated with and collaborate with the Center for African Studies, the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for Global Islamic Studies, the Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies, and various departments across the university including Anthropology and Political Science.
Faculty
Anna Peterson
Terje Østebø
Ali Altaf Mian
Anita Anantharam
Benjamin Soares