ECPR Press Religion and Political Theory: Secularism, Accommodation and The New Challenges of Religious Diversity

Religion and religious diversity now occupy a central place in several prominent debates in contemporary political theory, such as those concerning the meaning(s) and relevance of secularism, the place of religious reasons in political deliberation, and whether religious beliefs and practices deserve special treatment by laws and public institutions. That religion has once again become a divisive topic amongst political theorists is perhaps surprising, given the widespread consensus about such staples of liberal political morality as the separation of church and state and the principle of religious freedom. Featuring the work of both established and up-and-coming scholars, this collection will take stock of the recent turn towards religion in political theory, identify some of the major unresolved challenges and issues, and suggest new avenues for theoretical inquiry. Taken as a whole, the collection showcases some cutting-edge work by leading scholars of religion and political theory and demonstrates the vitality of religion and political theory as a research agenda. Review A superb collection that illuminates the theoretical stakes of recent controversies over religious diversity. It is exciting to see a new generation of scholars working at the cutting edge of debates about secularism and accommodation. This volume, carefully curated by Seglow and Shorten, provides a distinctively European perspective - a welcome addition to the US-dominated literature on religious freedom.--Cécile Laborde, Nuffield Chair in Political Theory, University of Oxford In a series of fascinating studies, this volume examines how secular liberal societies should provide for the diverse religious commitments of their populations. Writing lucidly and accessibly, the contributors combine analytic precision with theoretical insight and proposals for public policy. This is a 'must-read' volume for anyone interested in the political and legal issues facing contemporary multi-faith societies.--Peter Jones, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy, Newcastle University About the Author Andrew Shorten is a political theorist, who works mainly on topics in contemporary political philosophy. He has published book chapters and articles on toleration, religious accommodation, multiculturalism, nationalism, federalism, secession, and language policy, and is author of Contemporary Political Theory (Palgrave). He was previously a fellow at University College London and held a visiting fellowship at the Institute of Philosophy (School of Advanced Studies, University of London). He currently leads a research team working on Language Policy and Social