Download or read book Proclaiming Political Pluralism written by Isaac Phiri and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2001-09-30 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the population of Africa increasingly converts to Christianity, the church has stepped up its involvement in secular affairs revolving around the transition to democracy in nations such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Comparative in approach, the author analyzes patterns of church-state relations in various sub-Saharan countries, and contends that churches become more active and politically prominent when elements and organizations of civil society are repressed by political factors or governing bodies, providing services to maintain the well-being of civil society in the absence of those organizations being repressed. The author concludes, that once political repression subsides, churches tend to withdraw from a confrontation with the state and their political role becomes unclear. This unique book advances the idea that in pluralist Africa, churches should focus their influence and resources on nurturing the fragile multiparty democracies and promoting peace and reconciliation. In his analysis of church-state relations in sub-Saharan Africa, Phiri shows how churches are drawn into confrontation with the state by the repression of civil society and that once civil society is liberated, direct church-state confrontation diminishes. In South Africa, churches led by figures such as Bishop Desmond Tutu assumed a major role after nationalist movements such as Nelson Mandela's African National Congress were banned and their leaders jailed. In Zimbabwe, the church assumed a confrontational role in 1965 after political movements were banned and their leaders exiled. In Zambia, churches became confrontational when the single-party rule repressed all opposition and supported the rise of the prodemocracy movement that ended Kenneth Kaunda's twenty-seven-year rule. Examining these situations and others in different parts of Africa, Phiri illuminates the major issues and conflicts and suggests ways in which the church can continue to help promote smooth transitions to democracy.
Download or read book Political Polytheism written by Gary North and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 808 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Militant Democracy written by András Sajó and published by Eleven International Publishing. This book was released on 2004 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a collection of contributions by leading scholars on theoretical and contemporary problems of militant democracy. The term 'militant democracy' was first coined in 1937. In a militant democracy preventive measures are aimed, at least in practice, at restricting people who would openly contest and challenge democratic institutions and fundamental preconditions of democracy like secularism - even though such persons act within the existing limits of, and rely on the rights offered by, democracy. In the shadow of the current wars on terrorism, which can also involve rights restrictions, the overlapping though distinct problem of militant democracy seems to be lost, notwithstanding its importance for emerging and established democracies. This volume will be of particular significance outside the German-speaking world, since the bulk of the relevant literature on militant democracy is in the German language. The book is of interest to academics in the field of law, political studies and constitutionalism.
Download or read book The Politics of Multiculturalism written by Robert W. Hefner and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2001-08-31 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few challenges to the modern dream of democratic citizenship appear greater than the presence of severe ethnic, religious, and linguistic divisions in society. With their diverse religions and ethnic communities, the Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia have grappled with this problem since achieving independence after World War II. Each country has on occasion been torn by violence over the proper terms for accommodating pluralism. Until the Asian economic crisis of 1997, however, these nations also enjoyed one of the most sustained economic expansions the non-Western world has ever seen. This timely volume brings together fifteen leading specialists of the region to consider the impact of two generations of nation-building and market-making on pluralism and citizenship in these deeply divided Asian societies. Examining the new face of pluralism from the perspective of markets, politics, gender, and religion, the studies show that each country has developed a strikingly different response to the challenges of citizenship and diversity. The contributors, most of whom come Southeast Asia, pay particular attention to the tension between state and societal approaches to citizenship. They suggest that the achievement of an effectively participatory public sphere in these countries will depend not only on the presence of an independent "civil society," but on a synergy of state and society that nurtures a public culture capable of mediating ethnic, religious, and gender divides. The Politics of Multiculturalism will be of special interest to students of Southeast Asian history and society, anthropologists grappling with questions of citizenship and culture, political scientists studying democracy across cultures, and all readers concerned with the prospects for civility and tolerance in a multicultural world.
Download or read book Reconciliation and Religio political Non conformism in Zimbabwe written by Joram Tarusarira and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-05-20 with total page 397 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Religio-political organisations in Zimbabwe play an important role in advocating democratisation and reconciliation, against acquiescent, silenced or co-opted mainstream churches. Reconciliation and Religio-political Non-conformism in Zimbabwe analyses activities of religious organisations that deviate from the position of mainline churches and the political elites with regard to religious participation in political matters, against a background of political conflict and violence. Drawing on detailed case studies of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA), Churches in Manicaland (CiM) and Grace to Heal (GtH), this book provocatively argues that in the face of an unsatisfactory religious and political culture, religio-political non-conformists emerge seeking to introduce a new ethos even in the face of negative sanctions from dominant religious and political systems.
Download or read book Pluralism written by Rainer Eisfeld and published by Verlag Barbara Budrich. This book was released on 2006-04-20 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book focuses on the study of democratic processes. Special emphasis is put (1) on the existence of a diversity of (e. g. socio-economic, ethno-cultural,.) interests and the transformation of this diversity into public policies, (2) on the participatory features of democracy and on barriers to individual and group participation due to disparities in economic and political resources.
Download or read book The Nation That Fears God Prospers written by Chammah J. Kaunda and published by Fortress Press. This book was released on 2019-01-15 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through its strength in numbers and remarkable presence in politics, Pentecostalism has become a force to reckon with in twenty-first-century Zambian society. Yet, some fundamental questions in the study of Zambian Pentecostalism and politics remain largely unaddressed by African scholars. Situated within an interdisciplinary perspective, this unique volume explores the challenge of continuity in the Zambian Pentecostal understanding and practice of spiritual power in relation to political engagement. Chammah J. Kaunda argues that the challenge of Pentecostal political imagination is found in the inculturation of spiritual power with political praxis. The result of this inculturation is that Zambian Pentecostals sacralize the political authority of state power through the charisma of the national president and other major political personalities. It has also contributed to the construction of Zambian Pentecostal leadership that is deified rather than leadership that is formed through the struggles and experiences of the marginalized and powerless. Kaunda argues that the solution does not lie either in desacralization of powers or the separation between the church and the state, but rather in rethinking the Christ event as a paradigm for the recovery of Pentecostalism's sociopolitical prophetic dynamism.
Download or read book Political Finance and Corruption in Eastern Europe written by Jurij Toplak and published by Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. This book was released on 2013-03-28 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One characteristic of Central and Eastern European democracies in transition is the lack of stability in terms of accountability and transparency in practices of political party financing. This key volume provides a thorough and well-structured post-communist study of political finance, election campaign and party funding issues within this region, focusing specifically on Central and Eastern European countries. It outlines best practices for political party and election campaign financing, discusses the shortcomings of political funding schemes and highlights the scandals that emerge under investigation. Providing an illuminating analysis of how current regulations of political finance succeed in controlling the rise of political corruption, the volume will be indispensable for anyone interested in the efficiency of regulation in party funding.
Download or read book State Law and Religion in Pluralistic Societies Austrian and Indonesian Perspectives written by Richard Potz and published by V&R unipress GmbH. This book was released on 2010 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The contributions of this volume present experiences and best-practice examples in managing religious diversity from a legal, political and local perspective. It marks an interesting point for the on-going discussion on integration and participation of Muslims in Europe and shows the need for exchanging knowledge and experience in this field - especially to fulfil the challenges in a globalized world. This volume combines contributions from the Austrian-Indonesian Dialogue Symposium State, Law and Religion in Pluralistic Societies - Austrian and Indonesian Perspectives, held in May 2009 in Vienna, organized by the Austrian and the Indonesian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in co-operation with the Faculty of Law. This symposium marked an important step in strengthening the dialog between the countries, both on the level of civil service, universities and religious communities.
Download or read book Transforming Political Leadership in Local Government written by R. Berg and published by Springer. This book was released on 2005-11-10 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Local governments throughout the west are undergoing a transformation of their leadership styles and structures. Some countries have abandoned traditional systems of collective or committee based decision-making in favour of Cabinet models or, more radically, a directly-elected executive mayor, while others have strengthened existing mayoral systems. There are a few exceptions to this trend. Based on original research in eleven countries the book assesses these changes in terms of their implications for political accountability, the role of lay politicians, political recruitment, the professionalization of leadership, and relations with the bureaucracy.
Download or read book Democracy Culture Catholicism written by Michael J. Schuck and published by Fordham Univ Press. This book was released on 2015-11-02 with total page 469 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compiling scholarly essays from a unique three-year Democracy, Culture and Catholicism International Research Project, Democracy, Culture, Catholicism richly articulates the diverse and dynamic interplay of democracy, culture, and Catholicism in the contemporary world. The twenty-five essays from four extremely diverse cultures—those of Indonesia, Lithuania, Peru, and the United States—explore the relationship between democracy and Catholicism from several perspectives, including historical and cultural analysis, political theory and conflict resolution, social movements and Catholic social thought.
Download or read book Competing for Caesar written by Chammah J. Kaunda and published by Fortress Press. This book was released on 2020-11-03 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Competing for Caesar brings together, for the first time, key scholars working on various issues related to religion and public life in Zambia. They explore the interplay between religion and politics in Zambian society and how these religions manage and negotiate their identities in public life. This book analyzes recent religious dynamics in the nation's political life, and considers what constructive role religion could play to promote an alternative political vision to subvert neo-colonialism. Competing for Caesar carries forward a unique commitment on the part of Fortress Press to engage with the challenges and opportunities of Christianity in the Global South. The book will be of interest to scholars, professors, and students in a wide range of fields.
Download or read book Christianity Islam and Liberal Democracy written by Robert Alfred Dowd and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on research conducted in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Christianity, Islam, and Liberal Democracy argues that Christian and Islamic religious communities become more conducive to actions and attitudes conducive to and compatible with liberal democracy in religiously diverse and integrated settings than in religiously homogeneous or diverse but segregated settings.
Download or read book Reformed Humanism written by David Fergusson and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2024-05-30 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The volume comprises a collection of essays ordered in three parts, each of which describes broadly the sub-fields of theology to which these belong. The essays tackle core themes in Christian doctrine, the longstanding relationship of theology to philosophy, and a series of challenges facing churches today. While the volume represents a Reformed theological approach often with a historical focus, it self-consciously reflects an ecumenical and critical perspective. The term 'humanism' reflects an openness to insight, understanding and correction from different fields of knowledge, while its 'Reformed' designation positions the work within a recognized theological tradition though seeking to avoid imprisonment by it. A further feature of the collection is its attempt to overcome the curricular divisions between systematic theology, Christian ethics, and practical theology. The third section in particular deal with issues in social ethics, theological aesthetics, the place of the church in a secular culture, and the role of theology in the university.
Download or read book Uncertain Path written by Rudolf Martin Rizman and published by Texas A&M University Press. This book was released on 2006-06-07 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this case study of the politics of transition in Eastern Europe, Rudolf Martin Rizman provides a careful, detailed sociological explanation and narrative on the emergence of independent statehood and democracy in Slovenia, a small state whose experience is of interest to policy makers, scholars, and serious students of Eastern Europe. In his focus on the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic regime, Rizman analyzes social processes and political issues in the context of the Third Wave of democratization, identifying “zones of certainty and uncertainty.” Challenging many generally accepted ideas about small states and their transitions to democracy, this book places Slovenia’s pattern of democratization in the wider regional context of eastern and central European post-communist transitions. Rizman shows, for example, that a country’s size is merely one factor out of many, and while Slovenes considered the influence of larger states, their choices were not particularly circumscribed by them. Opening with a discussion of the relevant theoretical environment in sociology and political science, Rizman illuminates the complex processes of democratic transition and consolidation. From there, the book analyzes the internal and external processes and factors relevant for Slovenia’s successful trajectory from existence as an ethnically defined sub-nation to an internationally recognized nation-state. After careful consideration of religious, political, military, intellectual, and other socio-political stakeholders in the region, including the somewhat disturbing evidence of the salience of a new “radical Right”, Rizman concludes that Slovenia is irreversibly set on the course of democratization, with indications of having reached the early stages of consolidation.
Download or read book Alterity and the Evasion of Justice written by Deanna Ferree Womack and published by Augsburg Fortress Publishers. This book was released on 2023 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume considers overlooked "others" in the field of World Christianity. Contributors point to gender, sexuality, and race as themes ripe for exploration, while also identifying areas that have fallen outside the dominant World Christianity narrative, such as the Middle East and postcolonial indigenous and aboriginal theological expressions.
Download or read book Routledge Handbook of Democratization in Africa written by Gabrielle Lynch and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-07-02 with total page 627 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume explores the issues and debates surrounding the ongoing processes of democratization in sub-Saharan Africa, illuminating the central dynamics characterizing Africa’s democratic experiments, and considering the connections between democratization and economic, social, and cultural developments on the continent. Reflecting the diverse and rich nature of this field of study, the Handbook of Democratization in Africa features more than thirty contributions structured into six thematic sections: The politics and paths of regime development Institutional dynamics Political mobilization and voting dynamics The politics of identity Social forces from below The consequences of democracy. Chapters offer overviews of the key scholarship on particular topics, including central insights from the latest research, and provide suggestions for those interested in further inquiry. The material includes attention to broad cross-continental patterns, for example with respect to public opinion, political violence, or the role of different institutions and actors. It also includes rich case material, drawing on and highlighting the experiences of a diverse collection of countries. Encouraging a comprehensive view of key concerns and enhancing understanding of particular issues, the Handbook of Democratization in Africa represents a critical resource for experts and students of African politics, democratization, and African studies.
