R. Scott Appleby, Pioneer of The Ambivalence of the Sacred and Religious Engagement

Abstract

Since the publication 20 years ago of his classic book, The Ambivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence, and Reconciliation, R. Scott Appleby’s scholarly and policy contribution has been crucial to a more reflexive study of religion in international relations. Appleby’s argument sits in a unique place in the context of the research produced in the last 30 years to address the neglected role of religion in international affairs, and in particular, in the breakthrough that has seen the emergence of the more recent policy discussions on “religious engagement” in the global foreign policy-making community.

Keywords:

• R. Scott Appleby
• religion
• international relations
• foreign policy
• religious engagement

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fabio Petito

Fabio Petito is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sussex where he leads the FoRB & Foreign Policy Initiative. He is Head of the ISPI-Italian MFA Programme on “Religions and International Relations” and member of the OSCE/ODIHR Panel of Experts on FoRB. His publications include Religion in International Relations (2003), Civilizational Dialogue and World Order (2009), and Towards a Postsecular International Politics (2014).