Political Science of Religion: Theorising the Political Role of Religion

ISBN-13: 9783030201715 / Angielski / Miękka / 2020 / 187 str.

Maciej Potz

Spis treści

PART I. RECLAIMING RELIGION FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE

Chapter 1. Introduction: why we need political science of religion 

1.1. The dominant approaches

1.2. Why are these approaches dysfunctional for political science?

1.3. Conclusion

Chapter 2. Political science of religion: demarcating the field 

2.1. The principles of political science of religion

2.2. Religion as a subject of political science

2.3. Religious groups as political actors

2.4. Theoretical perspectives

2.5. Conclusion

PART II. THEOCRACIES

Chapter 3. Religious legitimation of power and the concept of theocracy

3.1. The legitimation of power

3.2. A legitimation-based concept of theocracy

3.3. Origins and stability of theocratic regimes

3.4. Sacralisation of power

3.5. The function of religious doctrines

3.6. Conclusion

Chapter 4. Theocracies as political systems 

4.1. Succession procedures

4.2. Institutional regime

4.3. Mechanisms of political control

4.4. Conclusion

PART III. RELIGION IN DEMOCRACIES

Chapter 5. Here to stay: the role of religion in contemporary politics

5.1. The changing position of religion. 

5.2. Against the odds: the survival of religion in democratic politics.

5.3. The special status of religion.

5.4. Political strategies of religious actors 

5.5. Religion and political conflict.      

5.6. Conclusion.

Chapter 6. Veto players and stakeholders: religion in Polish and American politics

6.1. Two models of religion-inspired political action: the conceptualization       

6.2. Poland since 1989: Catholic Church as a veto player

6.3 American churches as political stakeholders

6.4. Conclusion

Epilogue

O autorze

Maciej Potz is a full professor of Political Science at the Department of Political Systems, Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Łódź, Poland. His research focuses on political theory and political science of religion. As a Foundation for Polish Science scholar he did research on Shaker and Mormon theocracies in the USA. His publications include monographs on the relations between religion and the state in the USA and on American theocracies, as well as several articles, including in Religion, State and Society, Journal of Political Power, Politics and Religion Journal.

Blurb

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.

Maciej Potz is a full professor of Political Science at the Department of Political Systems, Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Łódź, Poland. His research focuses on political theory and political science of religion. As a Foundation for Polish Science scholar he did research on Shaker and Mormon theocracies in the USA. His publications include monographs on the relations between religion and the state in the USA and on American theocracies, as well as several articles, including in Religion, State and Society, Journal of Political Power, Politics and Religion Journal.