Religion and State-formation in Transitional Societies: Sri Lanka in a Comparative Perspective (Moderne Sudasienstudien / Modern South Asian Studies) - Softcover

Waha, La Toya

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3848753022 ISBN 13: 9783848753024

Publisher: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh & Co, 2018

Synopsis

Taking into account the importance religion has regained in politics all over the world, this work addresses one of the most fundamental questions of our time: How do religion, violence and the modern state relate to each other? The puzzle which the book seeks to solve relates to the rationality behind committing self-immolation in order to instigate political change. How can one's own death be a political tool, especially if we consider Hobbes, who believed that safeguarding lives was the very reason to form a state? Can a religious player be rational, especially since Weber claimed that basing behaviour on values is always - to varying degrees - irrational? What impact does religion have on decision-making? How can differences in behaviour be explained? This book examines the link between religion, state formation and rationality theoretically and provides deep empirical insights into the politics of Buddhism in Sri Lanka from its independence until today.

Edition details

• Publisher: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh & Co
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3848753022
• ISBN 13: 9783848753024
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 560