The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Challenges

What is the status of religious freedom in the world today? What barriers does it face? What are the realistic prospects for improvement, and why does this matter? This book addresses these critical questions by assembling in one volume some of the best forward thinking and empirical research on religious liberty, international legal trends, and societal dynamics. Chapters explore the status, value, and challenges of religious liberty around the world—with illustrations from a wide range of historical situations, contemporary contexts, and constitutional regimes. With a thematic focus on the nature of religious markets and statecraft, the book surveys conditions in different regions, from the Muslim arc to Asia to Eastern Europe. It probes dynamics in both established and emerging democracies. It features up-to-date treatments of such pivotal nations as China, Russia, and Turkey. It illuminates new threats to conscience and religious autonomy in the cradle of liberty, the United States, and in kin countries of the English speaking world. Finally, it demonstrates the vital contribution of religious freedom to inter-religious harmony, thriving societies, and global security, and applies these findings to the momentous issue of advancing freedom and democracy in Islamic cultures.