Religion features prominently in the international relations of many states around the world today. Whether mobilizing religious affinities as a form of public diplomacy, positioning religion as a force to counteract perceived ideological foes, or creating transnational networks of religious populism to support incumbent regimes--governments clearly perceive geopolitical utility in the power of religion. This volume explores how states across multiple regions and a diverse range of faith traditions incorporate religion as an aspect of their foreign policy. Each subsequent chapter is written by a leading expert and explores the role of religion in the global engagement of a particular country. Brazil, China, India, Iran, Jordan, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States are all featured, as are states such as Israel and the Holy See, which by their nature have unique relationships with religion. The case studies illuminate various cross-national patterns, as well as continuities and discontinuities in the role of religion as a geopolitical tool. This volume aims to directly address gaps in scholarly knowledge with data and analysis and seeks to inform and shape scholarship, policymaking, and practice.

About the Author
Peter Mandaville is Senior Advisor for Religion & Inclusive Societies at the United States Institute of Peace and Professor of International Affairs in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. From 2015-2016 he was a Senior Advisor in the Office of Religion and Global Affairs at the U.S. State Department. Previous government experience includes serving as a member of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Policy Planning Staff from 2011 to 2012, where he helped shape the U.S. response to the Arab Spring.

Reviews
Religious soft power is often alluded to but rarely clarified. This book changes things: the contributors focus on religious soft power in a number of theoretical and empirical contexts and collectively shed much light on the phenomenon. Henceforward, researchers and scholars will have a 'go to' book, to clarify what we mean when we refer to religious soft power. Highly recommended. * Jeffrey Haynes, Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University *
An insightful and compelling exploration of the dynamic relationship between religion and geopolitics. The contributors masterfully navigate the complexities of the relationship between religion and foreign policy, providing thought provoking analysis and engaging case studies of how faith can become an integral part of power and outreach in the international system. A must read for anyone interested in understanding potentials and limits of religious soft power, and how it influences global politics. * Nukhet Sandal, author of Religious Leaders and Conflict Transformation *
This edited volume is the first systematic and comparative analysis of the religious dimension of state foreign policy. It is scholarship at its best, bringing new insights on religion and International Relations. * Jocelyne Cesari, Professor of Religion and Politics, University of Birmingham (UK) and Georgetown University *
The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power stands as a pioneering work, delving into the diverse strategies employed by states as they integrate religion and religious outreach into their external relations...it positions itself as laying the foundation towards understanding this crucial, understudied aspect of international relations, especially in the face of a post-secular, multipolar era. * Omar Ahmed, Middle East Monitor *



Book Information
ISBN 9780197605806
Author Peter Mandaville
Format Hardback
Page Count 336
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 612g
Dimensions(mm) 165mm * 229mm * 43mm