Religion in International Relations Theory

8 Religion in international relations theory

Interactions and prospects

Religion has always been a part of local and international politics. Mainstream theories of international relations have not always paid sufficient attention to the religion dimension, yet this is not because these theories are unable to accommodate religion. Admittedly, each theoretical strand we examine has its own limits and strengths in accounting for religion’s role in international relations. It is not realistic to expect a single theory to provide the optimal account. No theoretical framework can be all-encompassing. This result is not surprising, considering that each international relations theory – without regard to religion – is considered to explain some aspects ...