The Politics of Transnational Religious Brotherhood

From the Catholic hierarchy through Al Qaeda to the Jewish diaspora (to name disparate examples), transnational communities founded in religious identity have revealed the role of religion in world politics, while also challenging the state-centric assumptions of International Relations. Among the transnational communities deserving greater attention in this context are the “orders” and “congregations” of Roman Catholicism. Many priests and nuns belong to transnational communities characterized by bonds of solidarity that can outstrip citizenship in terms of shaping political commitments. Defending “brothers and sisters” abroad from the foreign policies of one’s country can be a powerful mobilizing impetus for members of these transnational communities. This paper will focus on the political role played by members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who are also citizens of the USA. But I will also examine other “orders,” while at the same time establishing the significance of this phenomenon in other national settings.