POLS 041. Politics of Religion and Radicalism (CP)

This course provides an intensive, comparative examination of the complex and often contested relationship between religious identity, political systems, and ideological extremism in the contemporary world. The first half of the semester critically assesses the secularization thesis and its various critiques across different state models. We then conduct a comparative analysis of religion’s political influence, exploring its role in the Christian world (focusing on state formation, the rise of Christian Democracy, and church influence) and the Muslim world (examining debates over democracy, authoritarianism, and Islamic political thought). This section concludes by analyzing how religious affiliation and belief shape political behavior in various global contexts, including the United States, and how the presence of Islam is publicly negotiated in Western societies. The second half of the course pivots to the study of radicalism and extremism. We begin by critically defining concepts like fundamentalism and radicalization before investigating the complex nexus between religion and political violence, examining case studies ranging from suicide terrorism to religiously-tinged genocide. Ultimately, the course prepares students to engage with core theoretical frameworks, such as the “Clash of Civilizations” thesis, and to critically analyze the intersection of religious identity, political conflict, and ideological radicalism in shaping contemporary global politics.
Social Sciences.
1 credit.
Eligible for PPE.
Spring 2026. Kimya.
Catalog chapter: Political Science
Department website: swarthmore.edu/political-science

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