RECONSIDERING SECULARIZATION THEORY IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Duygu Dersan Orhan

Article Details

RECONSIDERING SECULARIZATION THEORY IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Authors:

Duygu Dersan Orhan

Publisher:

Inonu University

Main Topics:

Uluslararası İlişkiler Kuramları | Uluslararası İlişkilerde Siyaset

Journal:

Akademik Yaklaşımlar Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 1, pp.55-73

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351076

pISSN:

2146-1740

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Secularization theory holds that religions impact on public and political life decreases with societys modernization. The widespread return of religion, however, calls into question this idea and forces researchers to reevaluate its presumptions and consequences. The conceptual analysis of secularization, the origins of secularism in international relations, the approach taken by theories of international relations to secularization, the criticisms leveled against secularization theory in the literature, and the applicability of secularization theory in modern global politics are the main topics covered by this study. This article argues that the most important shortcomings of secularization theory is that it is too Western-centric due to its origins in Western Enlightenment thought and that it is insufficient to explain the increasing number of non-state religious actors and transnational religious networks due to globalization. It is suggested that even though secularization theory offers valuable information about the modernizing process and the separation of governmental and religious authority, there is a need to revise and expand the theory to address the emergence of religiously oriented politics.

 Secularization theory holds that religions impact on public and political life decreases with societys modernization. The widespread return of religion, however, calls into question this idea and forces researchers to reevaluate its presumptions and consequences. The conceptual analysis of secularization, the origins of secularism in international relations, the approach taken by theories of international relations to secularization, the criticisms leveled against secularization theory in the literature, and the applicability of secularization theory in modern global politics are the main topics covered by this study. This article argues that the most important shortcomings of secularization theory is that it is too Western-centric due to its origins in Western Enlightenment thought and that it is insufficient to explain the increasing number of non-state religious actors and transnational religious networks due to globalization. It is suggested that even though secularization theory offers valuable information about the modernizing process and the separation of governmental and religious authority, there is a need to revise and expand the theory to address the emergence of religiously oriented politics.

 Secularization theory holds that religions impact on public and political life decreases with societys modernization. The widespread return of religion, however, calls into question this idea and forces researchers to reevaluate its presumptions and consequences. The conceptual analysis of secularization, the origins of secularism in international relations, the approach taken by theories of international relations to secularization, the criticisms leveled against secularization theory in the literature, and the applicability of secularization theory in modern global politics are the main topics covered by this study. This article argues that the most important shortcomings of secularization theory is that it is too Western-centric due to its origins in Western Enlightenment thought and that it is insufficient to explain the increasing number of non-state religious actors and transnational religious networks due to globalization. It is suggested that even though secularization theory offers valuable information about the modernizing process and the separation of governmental and religious authority, there is a need to revise and expand the theory to address the emergence of religiously oriented politics.

 Secularization theory holds that religions impact on public and political life decreases with societys modernization. The widespread return of religion, however, calls into question this idea and forces researchers to reevaluate its presumptions and consequences. The conceptual analysis of secularization, the origins of secularism in international relations, the approach taken by theories of international relations to secularization, the criticisms leveled against secularization theory in the literature, and the applicability of secularization theory in modern global politics are the main topics covered by this study. This article argues that the most important shortcomings of secularization theory is that it is too Western-centric due to its origins in Western Enlightenment thought and that it is insufficient to explain the increasing number of non-state religious actors and transnational religious networks due to globalization. It is suggested that even though secularization theory offers valuable information about the modernizing process and the separation of governmental and religious authority, there is a need to revise and expand the theory in order to address the emergence of religiously oriented politics.

Article Details

RECONSIDERING SECULARIZATION THEORY IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Authors:

Duygu Dersan Orhan

Publisher:

Inonu University

Main Topics:

Uluslararası İlişkiler Kuramları | Uluslararası İlişkilerde Siyaset

Journal:

Akademik Yaklaşımlar Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 1, pp.55-73

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351076

pISSN:

2146-1740

Secularization theory

International Relations

Politics

ReligionSecularization theory

International relations

politics

religion

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Duygu Dersan Orhan

Publisher: Inonu University

Main Topics: Uluslararası İlişkiler Kuramları | Uluslararası İlişkilerde Siyaset

Journal: Akademik Yaklaşımlar Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 1, pp.55-73

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001351076

pISSN: 2146-1740

Issues

Authors:

Duygu Dersan Orhan

Publisher:

Inonu University

Main Topics:

Uluslararası İlişkiler Kuramları | Uluslararası İlişkilerde Siyaset

Journal:

Akademik Yaklaşımlar Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 1, pp.55-73

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351076

pISSN:

2146-1740