Faith, Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy (Hardcover)

Faith, Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy highlights the use of religious identity to fuel the rise of illiberal, nationalist, and populist democracy. In Faith,Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy, David Elcott, C. ColtAnderson, Tobias Cremer, and Volker Haarmann present a pragmatic and modernistexploration of how religion engages in the public square. Elcott and hisco-authors are concerned about the ways religious identity is being used tofoster the exclusion of individuals and communities from citizenship, politicalrepresentation, and a role in determining public policy. They examine the waysreligious identity is weaponized to fuel populist revolts against a political,social, and economic order that values democracy in a global and strikinglydiverse world. Included is a history and political analysis of religion,politics, and policies in Europe and the United States that foster thisilliberal rebellion. The authors explore what constitutesa constructive religious voice in the political arena, even in nurturingpatriotism and democracy, and what undermines and threatens liberaldemocracies. To lay the groundwork for a religious response, the book offerschapters showing how Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism can nourishliberal democracy. The authors encourage people of faith to promotefoundational support for the institutions and values of the democraticenterprise from within their own religious traditions and to stand against thehostility and cruelty that historically have resulted when religious zealotryand state power combine. Faith,Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy is intended for readerswho value democracy and are concerned about growing threats to it, andespecially for people of faith and religious leaders, as well as for scholarsof political science, religion, and democracy.