God and international relations
Subtitle: Christian theology and world politics
By: Mika Luoma-aho
Publisher: Continuum
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York; London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 173
ISBN-13: 9781441138668; 9781441122322; 9781441160720
Subjects: Religion and politics; International relations; Political theology; Christianity and international relations
Other titles: Christian theology and world politics
Description: "Religion is prevalent in world politics today, and international relation theory is at pains to understand and explain this phenomenon. This unique study aims to introduce political theology as an appropriate tool to the study of international relations. In accordance with the political theology of Carl Schmitt, which states that modern political concepts are secularized theological concepts, the work questions the "secular" foundations of contemporary international relations theory. Thus it reveals the Christian foundations of the discipline of international relations and delivers a critique of some of its most fundamental theoretical elements, such as its secular view of religion as part of the "irrational," its deification of the political form of the nation state, and its negation of theism in its understanding of responsibility in world politics. The result is a primer on how international relations and its studies have grown out of the political imagination of Christian theology. It will appeal to anyone interested in critical approaches to the field as well as in politics and religion, political theory, and political theology."--Bloomsbury Publishing.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 158-166) and index.
Table of contents: title: Secularization of theological concepts. Symbolism and beyond; title: The two political worldviews; title: Body politics-tradition; title: Jesus Christ as model; title: Appropriation of secular authority; title: Fear and modern order; title: Sacralization of international relations. "States are people too!"; title: Personality, morality, and community; title: Anthropomorphism and religion; title: Political dogma of IR; title: Political theology of the United Nations. The UN and its indispensable foundations; title: Insisting on true meaning; title: The tao; title: Development and guilt; title: Conclusion : states and death.