Politics of Secularism in International Relations

"A highly sophisticated, original, sobering (as opposed to saber-rattling) intervention into the debate on religion and world affairs. International relations theorists have tended to reduce the study of religion to either religious organizations, sometimes understood as moralizing interest groups or as terrorist organizations, or to generic principles that are synonymous with international norms. By investigating different lived and historically shifting conceptions of the secular in different cultural contexts, Hurd provides an original path for understanding the role of religion in modern international affairs."--Michael Barnett, University of Minnesota "Elizabeth Shakman Hurd has written an incisive and imaginative book that packs a big theoretical punch. Varieties of secularisms in the plural, not secularism in the singular, define contemporary world politics. The relations between the United States and Iran and Europe and Turkey offer the author politically important grounds on which she develops her compelling argument. Among a small list of books on religion and international politics, this is a standout."--Peter J. Katzenstein, Cornell University Assumptions about the secular organization of public life have sunk deeply into the structure of the academy in general and international relations theory in particular. Elizabeth Hurd excavates and challenges those assumptions; in doing so she opens the door to new developments in global theory and politics. Her comparisons between Euro-American secularism and the politics of Turkey and Iran are particularly apt."--William E. Connolly, author ofPluralism "This book is, first of all, provocative. Its edgy, gutsy argument takes on the very foundations of international relations theory. Second, it is persuasive, with its claims made admirably clear from the outset and defended throughout. Third, it is pertinent. Religion is rapidly becoming an important part of international relations, and the choice of case studies dealing with Islam in particular will propel this book right into the center of contemporary debates. Clearly and compellingly written, the book is, moreover, accessible to a large intellectual audience."--Daniel Philpott, University of Notre DameHurd, Elizabeth Shakman is the author of 'Politics of Secularism in International Relations ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780691130071 and ISBN 0691130078.