OADI 2185 - The Death of the Secular Order? Geopolitics of Religion and Global Politics

***UPDATED for 2023/24***

This course explores the geopolitical significance of return of religion to the global political arena. Across the globe, both domestic and international politics have been increasingly infused with a religiously tinged agenda. Even the most secularized part of the world, the European Continent, experiences a return of nativist Christianity (Brubaker). Does this “revenge of God” (Kepel) present a fundamental challenge to the liberal, secular international order as we know it? Is religion a mere veil for real socio-economic motives or is religion becoming a force of its own in world politics? In a series of lectures, the course will show the students how religion has made its comeback to the international stage in its various guises and what geopolitical consequences this development engenders. The students will gain the insight into the ways religion and politics interact, as well as practical skills for the analysis of the impact the return of religion can have on society, foreign policy, and diplomacy, but also on the international order at large.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to assess the specific roles religion plays in the field of global politics. In particular, they will be able to

1) understand the concept of geopolitics in general and geopolitics of religion in particular;

2) distinguish between religion as a transcendental experience and religion as an instrument used for political purposes;

3) carry out an original assessment of the role of religious factors in any particular field of investigation.

Professional Skills

NC

Manlio GRAZIANO,Petr KRATOCHVIL

Séminaire

English

- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

- Reading and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week / 36 hours a semester

- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester

- Research and Writing for Group Assessments:3.5 hours a week / 38 hours a semester

- Students will receive the power point and the readings one week before and will be asked to write a 150-word comment about them, aimed at introducing the class discussion. The comments will be written by groups of two students (groups can change every week).

Basilar notions of history, geography and religions.

Spring 2023-2024

Continuous assessment (take-home papers and participation in the class discussion), and final paper

% of each assessment in the final average grade:

- Written comments on the readings 30%

- Class participation 30%

- Final paper 40%

Every week when they send their points, and on an individual basis

Individual meetings with students, when requested.