Description
Book Synopsis: RECIPIENT OF THE 2022 AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION'S HUBERT MORKEN AWARD FOR BEST BOOK IN RELIGION AND POLITICS The surprising similarities in the rise and fall of the Sunni Islamic and Roman Catholic empires in the face of the modern state
Coping with Defeat presents a historical panorama of the Islamic and Catholic political-religious empires and exposes striking parallels in their relationship with the modern state. Drawing on interviews, site visits, and archival research in Turkey, North Africa, and Western Europe, Jonathan Laurence demonstrates how, over hundreds of years, both Sunni and Catholic authorities experienced three major shocks and displacements—religious reformation, the rise of the nation-state, and mass migration. As a result, Catholic institutions eventually accepted the state's political jurisdiction and embraced transnational spiritual leadership as their central mission. Laurence reveals an analogous process unfolding across the Sunni Muslim world in the twenty-first century.
Identifying institutional patterns before and after political collapse, Laurence shows how centralized religious communities relinquish power at different rates and times. Whereas early Christianity and Islam were characterized by missionary expansion, religious institutions forged in the modern era are primarily defensive in nature. They respond to the simple but overlooked imperative to adapt to political defeat while fighting off ideological challenges to their spiritual authority. Among Laurence's findings is that the disestablishment of Islam—the doing away with Islamic affairs ministries in the Muslim world—would harm, not help with, reconciliation to the rule of law.
Examining upheavals in geography, politics, and demography, Coping with Defeat considers how centralized religions make peace with the loss of prestige.
Details
The groundbreaking book, Coping with Defeat: Sunni Islam, Roman Catholicism, and the Modern State, has been awarded the prestigious 2022 American Political Science Association's Hubert Morken Award for Best Book in Religion and Politics. This captivating work by Jonathan Laurence delves into the striking parallels between the rise and fall of the Sunni Islamic and Roman Catholic empires in the face of the modern state. Through extensive research and insightful interviews, Laurence uncovers the historical panorama of these political-religious empires, revealing their surprising similarities and the challenges they faced.
With a focus on religious reformation, the rise of the nation-state, and mass migration, Laurence demonstrates how both Sunni and Catholic authorities adapted to these major shocks and displacements over several centuries. The book's compelling findings show how centralized religious institutions, whether Catholic or Sunni Muslim, have navigated the complex terrain of political defeat and ideological challenges to their spiritual authority. It is a testament to the enduring resilience and adaptive nature of these religious communities.
Through captivating storytelling and thorough analysis, Coping with Defeat sheds light on the process of relinquishing power and adjusting to changed circumstances. Laurence uncovers how religious institutions forged in the modern era have primarily taken on defensive roles, showcasing the imperative of adapting to political defeat while preserving their spiritual mandates. The book's significant insight challenges prevailing narratives and offers a fresh perspective on how centralized religions find peace amidst the loss of prestige.
In light of this groundbreaking research, it becomes clear that disestablishing Islam, by doing away with Islamic affairs ministries in the Muslim world, would not contribute to reconciliation with the rule of law but rather hinder it. Coping with Defeat pushes the boundaries of religious and political scholarship, provoking critical discussions and reevaluations of long-held assumptions.
Don't miss out on this thought-provoking and acclaimed book that explores the intricate relationship between religion, politics, and the modern state. Grab your copy of Coping with Defeat today and gain a deeper understanding of how religious institutions cope with challenges, adapt to defeat, and shape the course of history.
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