Political Science of Religion

This book introduces political science of religion - a coherent approach to the study of the political role of religion grounded in political science. In this framework, religion is viewed as a political ideology providing legitimation for power and motivating political attitudes and behaviors of the public. Religious organizations are political actors negotiating the political system in the pursuit of their faith-based objectives. Religion is thus interpreted as a power resource and religious groups as political players. The theoretical framework developed in the first part is applied to the study of theocracies and contemporary democracies, based on the case studies of Poland and the USA. The empirical analysis of resources, strategies and opportunities of religious actors demonstrates their ability to influence the politics of democracies and non-democracies alike. Using a multilevel approach, the book seeks to explain this tremendous political potential of religion.

PART I. Reclaiming Religion for Political Science. - Chapter 1 Introduction: Why we need political science of religion. - Chapter 2 Political Science of Religion: Demarcating the field. - PART II. Theocracies. - Chapter 3 Religious Legitimation of Power and the Concept of Theocracy. - Chapter 4 Theocracies as Political Systems. - PART III. Religion in Democracies. - Chapter 5 Here to Stay: The role of religion in contemporary politics. - Chapter 6 Veto Players and Stakeholders: Religion in Polish and American politics.