300653 Religion and Politics: Anthropological Perspectives (MA: Soziologie der Globalen Welt) (S) (WiSe 2024/2025)

In contrast to the secularization theories of the twentieth century, recent decades have shown that the retreat of religion into the private sphere is not an inevitable outcome of the historical process. Across the globe, religious figures continue to wield significant political power. The proliferation of Christian, Islamic, and various other religious movements has sparked a resurgence of faith-based motivations in the political consciousness of populations. Many violent conflicts still revolve around religious differences, and even in 'enlightened' Europe, public references to faith hold renewed political significance.

This seminar will examine the intersection of politics with religious beliefs, practices, and organizational forms through an ethnographic lens. This means that, rather than focusing on the critique of the mobilization of religious faith by the powerful, we will explore how religious practice, community, and convictions shape political participation at the grassroots, among the publics of more or less secular states. While we will look at case studies from different world regions, we will read a significant number of texts on Latin America.