POL3062: Beyond Belief

Students will appraise politics and policies relating to minority communities in the contexts of different countries, religious traditions, and constitutional and legal underpinnings. As many conflicts around the world have religious elements, becoming a global citizen scholar means students should understand different religions and understandings of freedom. 

Although belief is highlighted in many constitutional and human rights protections of religious freedom, belief is not as central to some religions. This seminar includes diverse religious communities and the political and legal issues they currently prioritize in both majority and minority settings around the world. With a focus on majority/minority dynamics and their implications for political science theories of freedom, secularism and democracy, students will examine religion and politics through contemporary Afro-Caribbean, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Indigenous, Shintō, and Sikh communities in several world regions. Students from a variety of backgrounds will deepen our discussions, so this interdisciplinary course is open to honors students from any field of study or college. Through field trips, careful reading, engaged responses, and independent research, students in this class will better understand religion and politics both locally and globally.