Religion and (Inter-)National Politics: On the Heuristics of Identities,Structures,and Agents

Abstract

Starting from the puzzling effects of religion on conflict, both its escalation and deescalation, this article investigates the role of religion in maintaining boundaries (sacred/profane, clean/unclean, good/evil, etc.) that become constitutive of “self” and “society.” The conceptual tools developed in this context are then applied to the issue of “fundamentalism” in contemporary politics.