Religion and International Relations in the Age of Globalization

Abstract: The global resurgence of religion and the return of religion from the so-called “Westphalia Exile” to the central stage of international religions have significantly transformed the viewpoints of both media and academia toward the role of religion in international relations (IR), and the challenges posed by religion to the contemporary international relations are often described as entirely subversive. The author argues that as a second-tier factor in the foreign policies of most countries and international affairs, religion and religious movements could neither shake the dominant role of “norm-setting” sovereign states in the international system, nor serve as a basis to “rebuild” IR theory. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications of religion’s growing influence in IR for China, the importance of religion to the construction of China’s international image, and the feasibility of religion being developed as a resource for China’s public as well as people-to-people diplomacy.