Religion as security: an introduction (original) (raw)

A Critical Contribution to the “Security-Religion” Nexus: Going Beyond the Analytical

This review essay explores the security–religion nexus by evaluating two books contributing to the “restorative turn” in International Relations (IR) theory and practice. While Securing the Sacred and Religion in the Military Worldwide “bring religion back” into the realm of international politics and security, I argue that the analytical purpose of the books is problematic, given that both studies imply a normative logic to the security– religion nexus. This is difficult for two reasons. First, it rests on an assumption about the resurgence of religion in the world and the conduct of research. Second, it furthers a powerful discourse in which religion has a rightful place in an orderly society. I therefore provide a critical contribution to the security–religion nexus by urging scholars of religion and security to embrace their underlying normative positions.

Book Review: Religion and Human Security: A Global Perspective Edited by James K. Wellman, Jr. And Clark B. Lombardi

Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, 2014

Religion and Human Security: A Global Perspective edited by James K. Wellman, Jr. and Clark B. Lombardi embarks on an ambitious project to understand the "importance of religion to the human security situation around the world" through a series of case studies and to "provide lessons for policymakers as they think about how to develop security-promotion policies" (Wellman and Lombardi 2012). This project is timely given the "recent global religious revival" as well as increased proliferation of global conflict.

Religion as a Security Threat

Journal of Religion in Africa

Religious extremism presents an ideological perspective found in most major religions and is currently associated with various forms of religiously motivated acts of violence. A conceptual framework is adopted to study the warning features of religious extremism and apply it to case studies of Nigeria, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR). The application of a religious jihadism model to Christianity provides a comparative basis for assessing Islamic radical jihadism, helping to understand religion as a security threat, with particular reference to Christian contexts and examples. Using extremist rhetoric and the mobilization of Christian rituals, members of religious groups attempt to renegotiate their position in the public space within a society from which they are excluded due to political, social, and economic dynamics based on their exclusion. This study finds no significant difference between Islamic jihad and Christian jihad, as each seeks to politically exploit re...

Religion and Human Security: A Global Perspective

Journal of Church and State, 2014

accommodate those who disclaim any religion? Given the partisan overtones of debates regarding religion and secularism, such a controversy runs the risk of inflaming passions that once unleashed are difficult to contain. Nussbaum's three principles are thus a good way for partisans of both the secular left and religious right to overcome their suspicion-even their fear-of not only Muslims, but one another.

Religion and Military Security: The Military Still Matters

Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 2021

The debate on changes and continuity in the field of security studies before and aftermath of the Cold War expounds certain security issues that have been reformed or changed and those that continue to be essential security concerns after the Cold War. The pervasiveness of military security might have been reconstructed at the aftermath of the Cold War but has remained ubiquitous despite scholarly argumentative prepositions debating its declination. This article uses secondary sources of data analysis by obtaining necessary information from textbooks, libraries, academic journals, online data and articles to examine the nexus between religion and violence leading to the renaissance of international terrorism after the attack of 9/11 that had propelled the involvement of military armed forces in domestic security of democratic governments constituting a debatable encumbrance to the principles of objective civilian control of the military entrenched in the liberal democracy and a justifiable argument for the potency of military security in the present liberal democratic states. It theoretically instantiates the emerging domestic role of the military armed forces signalizing the subjective control of civil-military relations in incongruousness to the objective control as expounded under military professionalism of Samuel Huntington.

Religion and Security: Can Religion Contribute to Peace and Reconciliation?

2014

The Open University Religion, Security and Global Uncertainties The Religion and Global Uncertainties 1914-2014 project is funded under a Research Council UK Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellowship. This report offers a synopsis of the research findings from Phase 1 of this project, which examined the relationship between religion and security, including terrorism and socalled 'religious violence'. This phase had two key objectives: 10. Self-appointed 'experts' can mislead. Identified contacts at regular intervals should be regularly reassessed to ensure a dynamic, ever-changing and diverse group of representatives involved in decision-making.

Freedom of Religion as Shield, Sword, and Contributor in Relation to National Security

Security, Religion, and the Rule of Law : International Perspectives,, 2023

Conclusion In relation to national security and challenging terrorism and violent extremism while also addressing foreign threats, it becomes apparent that Freedom of Religion or Belief is an important contributor to social cohesion, peacebuilding, and economic development. It fosters a sense of acceptance, respect, and recognition between different communities while contributing to the cohesion necessary for the predictable social and political circumstances that provide certainty for private sector growth and opportunity. Most importantly, in the context of this book, these are the foundation stones of a viable and sustainable national security policy.