This book proposes a post-Cold War paradigm based on the interaction between the contemporary globalization of the political, economic, military, and communication systems and the increasing role of religion in influencing global politics. Rapid technological advances constantly recast politics, economics, armed conflict, and the media. These four systems are thus becoming not just more international each in themselves, but they are also rapidly integrating among themselves. As a result, the four world systems constantly create new environments in which individuals and societies must make rapid choices on the basis of their perceived personal and communal identities. This book constructs its global paradigm by explaining the roles of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Maoist Marxism in world politics.

"The horrific images of suicide bombs and subway attacks make us all aware that the power of religious politics in the 21st century cannot be ignored. This carefully reasoned book shows that it also should not be ignored. It explores how and where a religious dimension can be infused with political order throughout the world. In a comprehensive manner, it moves from region to region, exploring the diverse forms of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhism formulations of religious politics. What it shows, in a thorough and thoughtful way, is that the possibilities of religious politics are richer and more enduring than the momentary flashes of the extremists' bombs would lead us to believe." Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence