Since the eighteenth century enlightenment philosophers have predicted that religion would vanish as capitalism, science and, and state separation from religion progressed. To some extent this has happened in some European countries, but, on the whole, the 'secularisation thesis' has not come true. Not only is religion still with us, but in many regions of the world it has grown more numerous and its impact more intense. This unit examines the nature of the relationship between religion and politics by analysing the history of political thought, as well as recent developments in global and national politics. -- Course Website
Instructor: Dr Ian Tregenza
Prerequisites: 39cp or (6cp in HIST or MHIS or POL units at 200 level including 3cp in POL)