Book: From Political Theory to Political Theology

Just published: Péter Losonczi and Aakash Singh, "From Political Theory to Political Theology: Religious Challenges and the Prospects of Democracy" (Continuum, March 2010):

www.continuumbooks.com/books/detail.aspx?BookId=136609

Publisher's description: "During the last two decades we have witnessed what José Casanova has characterised as 'religion going public'. This has not been a trend exclusive to traditionally religious nations. Rather, it has been visible in as diverse environments as that of the construction of the new Russian political identity or in the 'post-9/11' political discourses of the USA. Surprisingly, important religious manifestations also influenced the political discourses in Britain and, more recently, in France. Partly as a consequence of these phenomena an intensive debate is now evolving about the compatibility of the neutrality of liberal democracy in relation to religiously motivated opinions in public discourses, and the conditions under which such religiously driven contributions could viably 'go public'. This book offers a collection of essays on Religion and Democracy which critically discusses the most important questions that characterize these debates at the points of their intersection within political theory, political theology and the philosophy of religion, and considers both the challenges and the prospects of this new era which, following Habermas, one may call post-secular."

Review: "This is an impressive collection of interesting essays on political theology, covering a spectrum of possibilities from the more liberal to the more conservative. These essays diversely address the major issues that have been intensely discussed since the return of religion as an urgent concern for recent political developments. The editors have done a fine job in choosing essays which reflect current debates where a pluralism of possibilities vie for consideration and favor." (William Desmond, Catholic University of Leuven)

Péter Losonczi is Associate Professor in the Institute for Intercultural Studies at the University of West Hungary, Szombathely.

Aakash Singh is Research Assistant Professor in the Center for Ethics and Global Politics at LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome.