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The case studies in this volume examine the activities of
faith-based institutions in a representative sample of African and
Latin American countries, including societies with and without a
dominant religious tradition, and states with different levels and
types of government-provided social services. Among other
questions, the chapters examine the types of social service
activities faith-based organizations engage in; their effect on
civil society and democratic processes; their influence on the
character of local and national communities; and what new pressures
would be brought to bear on state-provided services if these
faith-based organizations ceased to exist.Â
This publication provides an up-to-date assessment of the political
and economic issues and is valuable reading for anyone wishing to
understand contemporary Spain and Portugal.
Following decades of relative isolation under authoritarian
regimes, the success of the processes of democratic transition in
both countries paved the way for full membership in the European
Community in 1986.
Drawing on research by established scholars Spain and Portugal in
the European Union offers original series of analyses of the
development of Iberian Politics, sociology and economics since the
accession to the European Union.
This publication provides an up-to-date assessment of the political
and economic issues and is valuable reading for anyone wishing to
understand contemporary Spain and Portugal. Following decades of
relative isolation under authoritarian regimes, the success of the
processes of democratic transition in both countries paved the way
for full membership in the European Community in 1986. Drawing on
research by established scholars, Spain and Portugal in the
European Union offers an original series of analyses of the
development of Iberian politics, sociology and economics since the
accession to the European Union.
This volume seeks to understand the role and function of
religious-based organizations in strengthening associational life
through the provision of social services, thereby legitimizing a
new role for faith in the formerly secular public sphere.
Specifically, we explore how a church in a postcommunist setting,
during periods of economic growth and recession in the wake of
transitions to capitalism, and with varied numbers of adherents,
might contribute to welfare services in a new political regime with
freedom of religion. Put another way, what new pressures would be
placed on the secular welfare state if religious organizations
(Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, others) simply stopped
offering their services? By examining public perceptions of the
church, changing dynamics of religiosity, and church-state-civil
society relations, the volume places these issues in context.
Pope Francis confuses many observers because his papacy does not
fit neatly into any pre-established classificatory schemes. To gain
a deeper appreciation of Francis's complicated papacy, this volume
proposes that an interdisciplinary approach, fusing concepts
derived from moral theology and the social sciences, may properly
situate Pope Francis as a global political entrepreneur. The
chapters in this volume ask what difference it makes that he is the
first pope from Latin America, how and why different countries in
the world respond to him, how his understanding of scripture
informs his ideas on economic, social, and environmental policy,
and where politics meets theology under Francis. In the end, this
volume seeks to provide a more robust understanding of the
enigmatic papacy of Francis.
Pope Francis confuses many observers because his papacy does not
fit neatly into any pre-established classificatory schemes. To gain
a deeper appreciation of Francis's complicated papacy, this volume
proposes that an interdisciplinary approach, fusing concepts
derived from moral theology and the social sciences, may properly
situate Pope Francis as a global political entrepreneur. The
chapters in this volume ask what difference it makes that he is the
first pope from Latin America, how and why different countries in
the world respond to him, how his understanding of scripture
informs his ideas on economic, social, and environmental policy,
and where politics meets theology under Francis. In the end, this
volume seeks to provide a more robust understanding of the
enigmatic papacy of Francis.
This volume examines the role and function of religious-based
organizations in strengthening associational life in a
representative sample of West European countries: newly
democratized and long-established democracies, societies with and
without a dominant religious tradition, and welfare states with
different levels and types of state-provided social services. It
asks how faith-based organizations, in a time of economic crisis,
and with declining numbers of adherents, might contribute to the
deepening of democracy. Throughout, the volume invites social
scientists to consider the on-going role of faith-based
organizations in Western European civil society, and investigates
whether the concept of muted vibrancy aids our theoretical
understanding.
This volume seeks to understand the role and function of
religious-based organizations in strengthening associational life
through the provision of social services, thereby legitimizing a
new role for faith in the formerly secular public sphere.
Specifically, we explore how a church in a postcommunist setting,
during periods of economic growth and recession in the wake of
transitions to capitalism, and with varied numbers of adherents,
might contribute to welfare services in a new political regime with
freedom of religion. Put another way, what new pressures would be
placed on the secular welfare state if religious organizations
(Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, others) simply stopped
offering their services? By examining public perceptions of the
church, changing dynamics of religiosity, and church-state-civil
society relations, the volume places these issues in context.
This volume examines the role and function of religious-based
organizations in strengthening associational life in a
representative sample of West European countries: newly
democratized and long-established democracies, societies with and
without a dominant religious tradition, and welfare states with
different levels and types of state-provided social services. It
asks how faith-based organizations, in a time of economic crisis,
and with declining numbers of adherents, might contribute to the
deepening of democracy. Throughout, the volume invites social
scientists to consider the on-going role of faith-based
organizations in Western European civil society, and investigates
whether the concept of muted vibrancy aids our theoretical
understanding.
Among all the worlds' democracies, the American system of
government is perhaps the most self-conscious about preventing
majority tyranny. The American constitutional system is predicated
on an inherent ideational and institutional tension dating back to
the foundation of the nation in the eighteenth century, which
constrains innovative policy development. Namely, the framers
designed a system that simultaneously seeks to protect the rights
of the minority out of power and provide for majority rule. These
opposing goals are based on the idea that limiting governmental
power will guarantee individual liberty. The Path of American
Public Policy: Comparative Perspectives asks how this foundational
tension might limit the range of options available to American
policy makers. What does the resistance to change in Washington
teach us about the American system of checks and balances? Why is
it so difficult (though not impossible) to make sweeping policy
changes in the United States? How could things be different? What
would be the implications for policy formation if the United States
adopted a British-style parliamentary system? To examine these
questions, this book gives an example of when comprehensive change
failed (the 1994 Contract with America) and when it succeeded (the
2010 Affordable Care Act). A comparison of the two cases sheds
light on how and why Obama's health care was shepherded to law
under Nancy Pelosi, while Newt Gingrich was less successful with
the Contract with America. The contrast between the two cases
highlights the balance between majority rule and minority rights,
and how the foundational tension constrains public-policy
formation. While 2010 illustrates an exception to the rule about
comprehensive policy change in the United States, the 1994 is an
apt example of how our system of checks and balances usually works
to stymie expansive, far-reaching legislative initiatives.
Among all the worlds' democracies, the American system of
government is perhaps the most self-conscious about preventing
majority tyranny. The American constitutional system is predicated
on an inherent ideational and institutional tension dating back to
the foundation of the nation in the eighteenth century, which
constrains innovative policy development. Namely, the framers
designed a system that simultaneously seeks to protect the rights
of the minority out of power and provide for majority rule. These
opposing goals are based on the idea that limiting governmental
power will guarantee individual liberty. The Path of American
Public Policy: Comparative Perspectives asks how this foundational
tension might limit the range of options available to American
policy makers. What does the resistance to change in Washington
teach us about the American system of checks and balances? Why is
it so difficult (though not impossible) to make sweeping policy
changes in the United States? How could things be different? What
would be the implications for policy formation if the United States
adopted a British-style parliamentary system? To examine these
questions, this book gives an example of when comprehensive change
failed (the 1994 Contract with America) and when it succeeded (the
2010 Affordable Care Act). A comparison of the two cases sheds
light on how and why Obama's health care was shepherded to law
under Nancy Pelosi, while Newt Gingrich was less successful with
the Contract with America. The contrast between the two cases
highlights the balance between majority rule and minority rights,
and how the foundational tension constrains public-policy
formation. While 2010 illustrates an exception to the rule about
comprehensive policy change in the United States, the 1994 is an
apt example of how our system of checks and balances usually works
to stymie expansive, far-reaching legislative initiatives.
Religion and Politics in a Global Society: Comparative Perspectives
from the Portuguese-Speaking World, edited by Paul Christopher
Manuel, Alynna Lyon, and Clyde Wilcox, explores the legacy of the
Portuguese colonial experience, with careful consideration of the
lasting impression that this experience has had on the cultural,
religious, and political dynamics in the former colonies. Applying
the insights derived from three theoretical schools (religious
society, political institutions, and cultural toolkit), this volume
brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines, offering
in-depth case studies on Angola, Brazil, East Timor, Goa,
Mozambique, and Portugal societies connected by a shared colonial
past and common cultural and sociolinguistic characteristics. Each
chapter examines questions on how faith and culture interrelate,
and how the various national experiences might resonate with one
another. This volume provides a deeper understanding of the
Lusophone global society, as well as the larger field of religion
and politics."
Presenting case studies from sixteen countries on five continents,
"The Catholic Church and the Nation-State" paints a rich portrait
of a complex and paradoxical institution whose political role has
varied historically and geographically. In this integrated and
synthetic collection of essays, outstanding scholars from the
United States and abroad examine religious, diplomatic, and
political actions - both admirable and regrettable - that shape our
world. Kenneth R. Himes sets the context of the book by brilliantly
describing the political influence of the church in the
post-Vatican II era. There are many recent instances, the
contributors assert, where the Church has acted as both a moral
authority and a self-interested institution: in the United States
it maintained unpopular moral positions on issues such as
contraception and sexuality, yet at the same time it sought to
cover up its own abuses; it was complicit in genocide in Rwanda but
played an important role in ending the horrific civil war in
Angola; and, it has alternately embraced and suppressed nationalism
by acting as the voice of resistance against communism in Poland,
whereas in Chile it once supported opposition to Pinochet but now
aligns with rightist parties. With an in-depth exploration of the
five primary challenges facing the Church - theology and politics,
secularization, the transition from serving as a nationalist voice
of opposition, questions of justice, and accommodation to sometimes
hostile civil authorities - this book will be of interest to
scholars and students in religion and politics as well as Catholic
Church clergy and laity. By demonstrating how national churches
vary considerably in the emphasis of their teachings and in the
scope and nature of their political involvement, the analyses
presented in this volume engender a deeper understanding of the
role of the Roman Catholic Church in the world.
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