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Religion, Ethics, and Politics in World Affairs

Welcome to the website on Religion, Ethics, and Politics in World Affairs of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. This site is designed to be of use to diplomats, religious leaders, university faculty and students, and the general public. The website is divided into five sections:

I. Religion, Ethics, and Politics in the International Systems
This section discusses the many relationships among religion, ethics, and politics in the various global systems. The analysis builds on the work of Eric O. Hanson, Religion and Politics in the International System Today (Cambridge, 2006). For example, how do ethical issues relate to the international political, military, economic, and communication systems?

II. Religion, Ethics, and Politics by Country and Region
This section describes how religion and ethics influence the politics of various countries and regions of the world. The entries are organized by thirty-five countries and ten regions, so that the website visitor can go directly to his/her specific national and regional interest.

III. Religion, Ethics, and Politics by Religion
While each religion has significant diversity within its tradition, general comments can be made about how political and ethical issues interact within that tradition. As each religious tradition is unique, so the interfaith dialogues between any two traditions are also unique.

IV. Religion, Ethics, and Politics in International Institutions
As global systems have changed since World War II, so also have the many international institutions that have increasing importance and impact. Religion and ethics play a critical role in these institutions which include the United Nations, NGOs and other transnational organizations, international law, and the evolving human rights regime.

V. Religion, Ethics, and Politics in a Global Ethic
There has been an increasingly active search for a truly “global ethic” which reflects the concerns of all religions and responds to the needs of world affairs. This section presents these efforts in the work of ecumenical theologican Hans Küng and others. This section also presents the impact of religion and politics on the broad range of topics addressed by contemporary ethics.

The website seeks to be broadly interdisciplinary and selective at the same time. General Principles for Choices of Recommended Materials.

This website is designed to serve political and religious practitioners, university faculty and students, and the general public. Possible Uses for Different Visitors.