Books

This collection of essays by leading scholars focuses on two controversial propositions central to the contemporary issues faced by multi-religious societies. Firstly, societies that are culturally and ethnically diverse can be more diffi cult to govern than those that are homogenous. Secondly globalization, particularly of religion, makes these problems increasingly endemic, global and potentially catastrophic.

As a result there is tension between the transnational identities of the world religions and the national identities of secular citizenship.

Modern religious diversity is now a profound political and cultural issue, because of a lack of robust social policies and institutions to manage the social tensions that flow from increasing cultural complexity. Many conventional liberal solutions appear to be in crisis. The societies examined in this book, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, and Great Britain, suggest some common problems and policy solutions that may help in creating more stable and lawful social order.