God and International Relations: Christian Theology and World Politics
Ebook
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.
A critique of secular international relations from the perspective of Carl Schmitt's political theology, the book examines the relations between International Relations and Christian theology.
Draws from influential Christian thinkers that have not been discussed much in international relations theory.
Introduces political theology as a relevant approach to study international relations.
Provides a critique of secular international relations based on Carl Schmitt's political theology.
1 Preface
2 Secularisation of Theological Concepts
Symbolism and Beyond
The Two Political Worldviews
Body Politics-Tradition
Jesus Christ as Model
Appropriation of Secular Authority
Fear and Modern Order
3 Sacralisation of International Relations
"States are People Too!"
Personality, Morality, and Community
Anthropomorphism and Religion
Political Dogma of IR
4 Political Theology of The United Nations
The UN and its Indispensable Foundations
Insisting on True Meaning
The Tao
Development and Guilt
5 Conclusion: States and Death
Bibliography
Index
"The gauntlet of God is yet again thrown down against the idolization of the state. A worthy challenge to any IR theorist" -- Iver B. Neumann,Director of Research, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
"Going beyond Carl Schmitt's argument that "all significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts" the author traces the process by which sovereign states became the latest embodiment of the Christian corpus mysticism and a centerpiece of the academic discipline of International Relations. In this major contribution to the emerging political theology of International Relations, the author sheds light on the profound worldwide moral crisis and explains why the discipline is paralyzed when handling some of today's key issues." -Dr. Vendulka Kubálková, Professor of International Studies, University of Miami, Florida
In this fresh and provocative study, Mika Luoma-aho is not content with merely contributing to skepticism concerning the secular narrative about the Westphalian order or with reconfiguring the dilemmas concerning the scientific versus political character of international relations...This book goes beyond the simple acknowledgment of the relevance of religion for the discipline of international relations, and aims at unveiling the religious nature of international relations itself...This deeply theologised rethinking of international relations is intellectually refreshing and exciting, and in a way is much more realistic than the mainstream program of social and political science backed by an alleged 'methodological atheism'.
This is an iconoclastic book. The need for this radical thinking is great when the dangers of extreme nationalism and state isolationism are threatening global solidarity.
- Title: God and International Relations: Christian Theology and World Politics
- Author: Mika Luoma-Aho
- Publisher: Continuum
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781441160720, 9781623561284, 1623561280, 1441160728
- Resource ID: LLS:9781441160720
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-12T02:42:24Z
Mika Luoma-aho is Head of the Department of Social Studies and a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Lapland, Finland. He serves on the Editorial Board of Kosmopolis and is the author of four books, including Europe as a Living Organism: Organicist Symbolism and Political Subjectivity in the New Europe (2002).