Nations under God: How Churches Use Moral Authority to Influence Policy

Abstract

Scholars of comparative democracy are still coming to terms with religion's global influence. Until recently, religious actors received little attention, whether due to assumptions about secularization or seemingly more compelling interests facing modern voters. Today, in contrast, scholars have “found religion” in democratic politics from South America to South Asia. This new attention is welcome, but it raises several challenging questions. What does religion's influence on democracy look like in practice? And, given religion's seeming widespread importance, why do religious actors have such mixed success in actually shaping political outcomes? Anna Grzymała-Busse's Nations under God is a landmark contribution advancing this research agenda. It blends statistical analysis, qualitative paired comparisons, and formal theory into an argument that is both theoretically nuanced and empirically rich. Grzymała-Busse's core claims link religion's role in nation building, the moral authority of religious actors, and patterns of influence over democratic life. Where churches historically defended the nation from opponents, they garner high moral authority among the public, which in turn allows clerics to influence politics through subtle patterns of formal and informal institutional access. Where, in contrast, churches stood aloof from (or even opposed to) nation building, they lack broad moral authority and have more limited options in public life.