Religion and the Realist Tradition ― From Political Theology to International Relations Theory and Back

This volume picks up a rather uninvested field of international relations theory: the influence of religion on Realism as well as the power of Realism to address religious issues in world politics. Although classical scholars of Realism rarely mention religion explicitly in their well known work, this volume suggests that Realism offers serious ground for taking religion and faith into account as well as evaluating the impact of religion on its theoretical framework: how religion and religious worldviews influence and affect the theoretical framework of Realism, how Realism approach religious issues in international relations as a relatively new field of international studies. Although international relations scholars now widely deal with issues of religion large portions of an adoption of the theoretical underpinning are missing. In addressing this lack, the volume illustrates the possibility of reform and change in Realism. Even more, the chapters reach out to normative statements. The contributors offer a theoretical view on religion in international relations in the context of Realism but always connect this with actual, real-world related political problems. The volume not only takes into account classical thinkers and approaches of Realism but also present-day authors dealing with ethical and normative questions of international relations in the aftermath of 9/11.

Offering a fresh perspective on the influence of religion on international relations theory, this work will be of great interest to scholars of religion and international relations, international relations theory and political philosophy.

Jodok Troy is a lecturer at the department of political science at the University of Innsbruck and an affiliated scholar at the Swedish National Defense College. He was as research fellow at the Georgetown University, USA. His most recent publications include Christian Approaches to International Relations and the volume Mission Critical: Smaller Democracies Role in Global Stability Operations.