From Repression to Recognition: The Religious Factor as a Key to Analyzing Contemporary International Relations

Abstract

This article critically assesses the historical marginalization of religion in dominant International Relations (IR) theories, rooted in the secular legacy of the Westphalian paradigm. Through an examination of epistemological biases including materialist reductionism, Christian exceptionalism, and conceptual exclusion, the study demonstrates the analytical limitations of traditional IR frameworks in comprehending contemporary global political dynamics significantly shaped by religion. Responding to recent geopolitical shifts characterized by religious resurgence, the paper argues for a systematic integration of religion as a core explanatory variable in IR theory. This integration is explored within the context of major theoretical schools (realism, liberalism, constructivism), and supported by empirical cases that underline religion's profound impact on foreign policy and international interactions. The article concludes by emphasizing the epistemological necessity for a fundamental reassessment of existing analytical frameworks to adequately address the complexity and contemporary challenges in international relations.