This title was first published in 2001. Why, in this contemporary secular age, does violent conflict among confessional communities still occur? Covering several key conflicts of recent years in one of the most dynamic areas of the world, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans, Mario Apostolov uses both interpretative and comparative analysis to answer this question. His versatile approach makes for an engaging account that makes an important contribution to the current debate surrounding such conflicts.The author focuses on five case studies taken from the traditional zone of contact between Christianity and Islam:- The Copts- The Palestinian Christians- The Lebanese communities- The Pomaks- The communities of Bosnia-HerzegovinaThe book examines the relationship between these issues and communal mobilisation, the collective use of violence and the problems of international security. An informative study for students, academics, policy makers and personnel in international organizations with an interest in communal conflict and security.

The thesis uses both interpretive and comparative analysis to explain why conflicts involving confessional minorities still occur in the contemporary age of secular nation states. Arguably, these conflicts reflect political relations involving nation states, political leaders and various communities. This is one of the reasons why the secularisation hypothesis does not hold in many states in today's world.

For the last two centuries, the nation state has posed a formidable challenge to multinational empires. It has served as a base for modernization, secularization and democratization - and also for the formation of totalitarian regimes. Today, the nation state faces challenges from multiple directions. National minorities demand self-determination while religious forces challenge secular governments, and global migration movements destroy the cultural uniformity once considered essential for the formation and preservation of nation states. The Nation State and Religion: The Resurgence of Faith is the second of a three-volume set which addresses key challenges facing the contemporary nation state from a global perspective but with special emphasis on the Middle East and Israel. Publication reflects research conducted under the auspices of The Israel Democracy Institute's "Nation State Project," which analyzes Israel's complex reality in which a Jewish majority contends with an Arab minority, ultra-Orthodox religious forces reject the authority of the nation state, and an immigrant society exhibits substantial cultural and ethnic variance. Volume II examines the role of religion in the nation state and the tension between nationality and religion as it is expressed today in society, politics, law and culture. The book offers a broad-based and in-depth comparative look at this issue in relation to different religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) and relative to varied nation states (the United States, France, Canada, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, and the Palestinian Authority). Special emphasis is given to the Jewish nation state of Israel, where there is an ongoing struggle about the role of religion in the public sphere.

"The present guide offers information related to norms and mechanisms developed to protect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. It includes detailed information about procedures and forums in which minority issues may be raised to minorities and by also covering selected specialized agencies and regional mechanisms, the present Guide complements information contained in Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A Handbook for Civil Society"--Introduction.

Comparing policy in America, France, and Turkey, this book analyzes the impact of ideological struggles on public policies toward religion.

On August 24-25, 2010, the National Defense University held a conference titled “Economic Security: Neglected Dimension of National Security?” to explore the economic element of national power. This special collection of selected papers from the conference represents the view of several keynote speakers and participants in six panel discussions. It explores the complexity surrounding this subject and examines the major elements that, interacting as a system, define the economic component of national security.