Politics and religion in the modern world

"Despite the commonly held Western view that secularization has taken religion largely out of the political sphere, the relationship between religion and politics can be witnessed at the heart of many of the critical issues of our time. The role of the church in nationalist movements in Eastern Europe and the influence of Islam on Middle Eastern politics are two clear examples. This book sets out to explore the nature of politics and religion, to examine what makes them such a potent combination, and exactly why they are so closely interlinked in most countries in the world." "The key regions of the world are examined individually with contributions by experts on the area in question. The focus shifts from a holistic focus in the case of some regions, to case studies of individual countries, which allow insight into the rich variety of national situations. What emerges is a substantial commentary on what is happening in religion and politics in the world today which will appeal to students of political science, religious studies, history and sociology."--BOOK JACKET.