Assignment task:
How do different political-economic systems shape the relationship between religion and state governance?
Religion plays a pivotal role in shaping governance structures, but its influence varies significantly depending on the underlying political-economic system. Some states integrate religion into governance as a tool for social cohesion and political legitimacy, while others prioritize secularism to maintain economic and political autonomy.
For example, in Saudi Arabia, a rentier state with a resource-based economy, the monarchy derives political legitimacy through its close alliance with Wahhabi Islam, reinforcing conservative policies and limiting democratic reforms. In contrast, France's secular republican model enforces strict separation between religion and the state, shaping policies like the ban on religious symbols in public institutions.
By comparing these cases, we can assess how economic structures-whether oil wealth in a theocracy or capitalist liberal democracy-shape the role of religion in governance. Why do some political-economic systems entrench religious influence, while others actively seek to diminish it? Need Assignment Help?