Drawing from research conducted in Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda, Christianity, Islam, and Liberal Democracy offers a deeper understanding on how Christian and Islamic faith communities affect the political attitudes of those who belong to them and, in turn, prospects for liberal democracy. While many analysts have thought that religious diversity in developing countries is most often an obstacle to liberal democracy that creates political instability, the book concludes just the opposite. Robert A. Dowd draws on narrative accounts, in-depth interviews, and large-scale surveys to show that Christian and Islamic religious communities are more likely to support liberal democracy in religiously diverse and integrated settings than in religiously homogeneous or segregated settings. Religious diversity, in other words, is good for liberal democracy. In religiously diverse environments, religious leaders tend to be more encouraging of civic engagement, democracy, and religious liberty. The evidence, Dowd argues, should prompt policymakers interested in cultivating religiously-inspired support for liberal democracy to aid in the formation of religiously diverse neighborhoods, cities, and political organizations.

About the Author
Robert A. Dowd is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame.

Reviews
Dowd produced a significant ground-breaking study that should stimulate other researchers to do likewise and build on his hypothesis. ... it is a text not only for those keenly interested in the nexus between religion and politics in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it is necessary reading for Africanists be they political scientists, policy makers, or religious-studies specialists. * Muhammed Haron, Islamic Studies *
The book thus in presenting [a] copious wealth of knowledge in the interfacing roles of Christianity and Islam in promoting the culture of liberal democracy in sub-Saharan Africa in the same vein presents itself as a veritable springboard for further research. * Nwankwo T. Nwaezeigwe, African Studies Quarterly *
This work is very well-researched and well-presented * Ali Abd al-Malik, Islamic Quarterly *
Robert Dowd's fascinating work highlights religious diversity and integration in a broadly tolerant, democratic African culture. This book is based on thorough field research, and specialists will find insights on every page. But the book should not be consigned solely to academia. It has immediate relevance to policy makers crafting responses to ethnic and religious conflict in Africa in general, and, in particular, to the bloody, radical Islamist insurgency called Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. * Amb. John Campbell, ret., Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, Council on Foreign Relations *



Book Information
ISBN 9780190225216
Author Robert A. Dowd
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 635g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 157mm * 25mm