The Masks of the Political God

Ozzano brings 17 years of research to this comparative study of the role religion plays in political parties. He employs qualitative historical analysis examining the secularization hypothesis of democratization, offering a comprehensive survey of religion-oriented parties and their role in democratic systems.... Ozzano reviews the main debates by examining the literature in political science before presenting a typology of parties with religious orientation. Five types emerge: conservative, progressive, nationalist, fundamentalist, and "camp." Ozzano attempts to reveal the diversity encompassed by these types, employing a "multivocality" of religious traditions in his discussion, but in general, the alignment of the parties discussed has become predominantly conservative. Case study chapters focus on India, Israel, Italy, Tunisia, Turkey, and the US. Ozzano finds that religion in party politics today reflects a global upsurge of right-wing, nationalist, and populist trends and argues that the role of parties in democratization cannot be overlooked. -- 'Choice Reviews'

Luca Ozzano is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Turin, where he teaches Political Science and Politics and Religion. He is chair of the Religion and Politics groups at ECPR, IPSA and SISP, and Associate Editor of the ECPR journal Political Research Exchange. He has published two books, European Culture Wards and the Italian Case: Which Side are you on? (Routledge, 2015) and, Religiously Oriented Parties and Democratization (2014).