Sacred Cultures in Global Politics

Sacred Cultures in Global Politics examines how religious and cultural rhetoric functions as a tool of political power, drawing on cases in ten countries across six continents. In twenty chapters organized around the themes of Indigeneity, Identity, and Inclusivity, the contributors trace how political actors leverage shared belief systems to legitimize movements, shape institutions, and mobilize constituencies. They also show how sacred discourse can be used to elevate the ancient into the modern and the marginal into the mainstream, in order to unify or fracture, to serve public interests or advance partisan agendas. Together, these chapters illuminate contemporary religious polemics that shape today’s institutions, movements, and public policy.