Religious voices in the politics of international development : faith-based NGOs as non-state political and moral actors

Author(s)

• Nelson, Paul J.

Bibliographic Information

Religious voices in the politics of international development : faith-based NGOs as non-state political and moral actors

Paul J. Nelson

（Palgrave studies in religion, politics, and policy / series editors, Ted G. Jelen and Mark J. Rozell）

Palgrave Macmillan, c2021

Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This first study of faith-based development NGOs' (FBOs) political roles focuses on how U.S. FBOs in international development educate and mobilize their constituencies. Most pursue cautious reformist agendas, but FBOs have sometimes played important roles in social movements. Nelson unpacks those political roles by examining the prominence of advocacy in the organizations, the issues they address and avoid, their transnational relationships, and their relationships with religious and secular social movements. The agencies that educate and mobilize U.S. constituencies most actively are associated with small Christian sects or with non-Christian minority faiths with historic commitments to activism or service. Specialized advocacy NGOs play important roles, and emerging movements on immigration and climate may represent fresh political energy. The book examines faith-based responses to the crises of climate change, COVID-19, and racial injustice, and argues that these will shape the future of religion as a moral and political force in America, and of NGOs in international development.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Religious Voices Between Silence and Protest Chapter 2 Religion, Development and Faith-based organizations Religion and Development Religion's influence: Beliefs, institutions, and practices "World religions": Changing patterns, dynamism, and influence Religion and Politics: The United States and Beyond Contemporary religious voices in US Policy Religion, mobilization and politics in the rich countries Perspectives on NGOs Marketplace Global socio-political systems Shared values, identities, and trust Institutions: organizational affiliation and institutional rootedness Why Faith-based NGOs? Religion, FBOs and development agencies Chapter 3 Faith-based identities FBOs as religious and as organizations Types of faith based organizations in international charitable action FBOs: The players Human rights NGOs and religion International FBOs: Balancing professional and religious identities Faith-based NGOs: four big issues Whom to serve? Universal or communal? Individual transformation and social change Proselytizing Religious belief, culture, and staffing NGOs' institutional ties to religion: a typology Chapter 4 Encouraging Active Citizen Voices on International Policy? The Record of U.S. Faith-based NGOs FBOs, Religious Organizations, and Political Voice Four models of religious political voice on international affairs Faith-based NGOs as Advocates Record and limitations Independent issue-focused groups Mobilizing or marginalizing religious citizen action? Chapter 5 Agendas and Strategies: Prophetic voices and cautious reformers Understanding FBO Advocacy: Theory and Motivations Why FBO advocacy? Method: Categorizing Advocacy Issues Public policy advocacy agendas: Findings FBO and Secular NGO Agendas A Closer Look: "Advocating Against Hunger" Benchmarks: Two broad agendas on food security Faith-based food security agendas Agendas in comparative perspective Chapter 6 Global Religions and National Politics NGOs, Politics, Religion and International Development FBO Families Transnational relationships in religious communities Universal Faiths and Sources of Variation Legal-institutional framework Public Opinion on Religion and Politics Faith-based Identities and Political Voice Advocacy issue agendas Advocacy alliances Universal Faiths and National Politics Chapter 7 Beyond Advocacy? Mobilizing Compassion What We Know: Religion, volunteering and mobilization Methodology Findings: What are FBOs Asking of Supporters? The FBOs and the actions they encourage Transformative Work in Action: Some Themes and Cases Faith in the Marketplace: Consumers and Investors Simplicity Impact investing Fair trade Divesting fossil fuels, investing in energy access Some Implications Chapter 8 Religious Movements and FBOs: The Climate Threat and Covid-19 Social Movements, Religion, and FBOs What resources do faith-based NGOs deploy? Three Contemporary movements Jubilee debt campaign Sanctuary movements Save Darfur Coalition Climate and Energy Access: A cause struggles to become a movement COVID-19: Prophetic voices in a pandemic? FBOs in a Society in Crisis: Racial Justice Chapter 9 Conclusions FBOs, Religious identities and US politics Limiting Factors: Agendas and communication FBOs and potential for mass action Lessons from most active mobilizers

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BC09216765
• ISBN:
  • 9783030689636
• Country Code: sz
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Cham
• Pages/Volumes: xviii, 225 p.
• Size: 22 cm
• Classification:
  • DC23 : 361.77
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Non-governmental organizations
  • LCSH : Religion and international relations
  • LCSH : Economic development -- Religious aspects
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BB15972186