THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE NATION-STATE
Comparative Perspectives
Edited by Paul Christopher Manuel, Lawrence C. Reardon, Clyde Wilcox
Presenting case studies from sixteen countries on five continents, The Catholic Church and the Nation-State paints a rich portrait of a complex and paradoxical institution whose political role has varied historically and geographically. In this integrated and synthetic collection of essays, outstanding scholars from the United States and abroad examine religious, diplomatic, and political actions—both admirable and regrettable—that shape our world. Kenneth R. Himes sets the context of the book by brilliantly describing the political influence of the church in the post-Vatican II era. There are many recent instances, the contributors assert, where the Church has acted as both a moral authority and a self-interested institution: in the United States it maintained unpopular moral positions on issues such as contraception and sexuality, yet at the same time it sought to cover up its own abuses; it was complicit in genocide in Rwanda but played an important role in ending the horrific civil war in Angola; and it has alternately embraced and suppressed nationalism by acting as the voice of resistance against communism in Poland, whereas in Chile it once supported opposition to Pinochet but now aligns with rightist parties.

With an in-depth exploration of the five primary challenges facing the Church—theology and politics, secularization, the transition from serving as a nationalist voice of opposition, questions of justice, and accommodation to sometimes hostile civil authorities—this book will be of interest to scholars and students in religion and politics as well as Catholic Church clergy and laity. By demonstrating how national churches vary considerably in the emphasis of their teachings and in the scope and nature of their political involvement, the analyses presented in this volume engender a deeper understanding of the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the world.

Reviews:
"A book that astutely crosses the theology-political science divide to probe the relation between faith and culture. The authors capture multiple tensions and ambiguities as the Catholic Church faces challenges of secularization, nationalism, and democracy across the globe."—Clarke E. Cochran, Texas Tech University

"Manuel, Reardon, and Wilcox have assembled a superb group of scholars to discuss the global challenges to the Catholic Church. Organized thematically and covering all corners of the world, this work should become an essential read for anybody interested in Catholicism or religion more generally."—Anthony Gill, author of Rendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Church and the State in Latin America

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Spain and Portugal in the European Union: The First 15 Years
This volume provides an up-to-date assessment of the political and economic issues and is valuable reading for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Spain and Portugal. Following decades of relative isolation under authoritarian regimes, the success of the processes of democratic transition in both countries paved the way for full membership in the European Community in 1986. Drawing on research by established scholars, Spain and Portugal in the European Union offers original series of analyses of the development of Iberian Politics, sociology and economics since the accession to the European Union.

Review:
'A useful contribution ... it provides some lessons that may be applicable to Eastern European countries as they pursue their own integration within the EU.' - Focus - Journal of the European Information Association

Clericalism, Anticlericalism and Democracy in Portugal and Spain: Religion and Politics in Iberia
Religion is resurgent across the globe. In many countries religion is a powerful source of political mobilization, and in some a potent social cleavage. In some religion reinforces the state, in others it provides the space for resistance. This book contains a series of detailed studies examining religion and politics in specific countries or regions. The cases include countries with one dominant religious tradition, and others with two or more competing traditions. They include Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Hinduism, Shinto and Buddhism. They include states where religion and politics are closely linked, and others with at least a low wall of separation between church and state. The cases are organized by the type of religious marketplace, but allow many other comparisons as well. We develop some generalizations from the cases, and hope that they will be a fertile source of theorizing for others.

Reviews:
‘This book is recommended to those who wish to go deeper, and to consider religion locally as a source of 'unity, controversy or diversity.’ -Andrew Wingate, Church Times

"Jelen and Wilcox present a valuable collection of 14 essays dealing with the interaction between religion and politics in select countries.... [S]ocial scientists and political theorists will find much of value to assist them as they explore the social interplay between convictions of faith and affairs of state. Highly recommended." - Choice

South European Society & Politics
Regime Changes and Civil Society in Twentieth Century Portugal, with Kerstin Hamann, in South European Society and Politics, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Summer 1999), pp. 71-96.

Checks & Balances?: How a Parlimentary System Could Change American Politics
Could the United States function under a British-style parliamentary system? Would we be better off? What would be the implications for the United States if it adopted a British-style parliamentary system? This book applies the broader debate in the field of political science over the advantages of a parliamentary system to the case of the United States. It asks whether it is better for a democracy to function under a parliamentary or presidential system.In the face of a parliamentary alternative to the American presidential system, Checks and Balances? How a Parliamentary System Could Change American Politics illustrates how the Constitutional system of checks and balances functions, including the separation of powers and the legislative process. Throughout, the text explains how the institutional dimension of the political equation-sometimes overlooked by politicians and scholars alike-is of vital importance to a proper understanding of American politics. This book is designed to help American readers better understand their own form of government, while expanding their knowledge of other governments.

Reviews:
" Checks and Balances? is a courageous attempt to think about what political 'realists' tend to regard as unthinkable: how a shift to British-style parliamentarism could greatly benefit the United States. It is far more realistic to recognize the urgent need for drastic reforms, and Professors Manuel and Cammisa's book will help us seriously consider again what was already Woodrow Wilson's strong recommendation more than a century ago." -Arend Lijphart, University of California at San Diego

" Manuel and Cammisa dare to propose that a shift to British-style parliamentarism could greatly benefit the US. Perhaps if Americans better understand the basis of their political system (relevant documents appended), this suggestion would not be so shocking." -Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

" Addresses an important topic and offers suggestions for reform of the United States national governmental system." -American Politics Review

Political Science Fiction
Political Science Fiction examines the close relationship between politics and science fiction and shows how much of the former is grounded in the latter. Many of the essays explore the frequent portrayal of the U.S. government's response to a catastrophe or an intergalactic issue. Others reveal the ways in which science fiction speaks to the study of international relations, such as the support for realist ideology found in the enormous genre of interspecies war novels and stories.

Reviews:
Manuel works through dozens of scripts from Star Trek episodes both old and new to propose a typology of governmental forms that takes as its starting point the inventory of ideal types offered in Robert Dahl's 1971 book, Polyarchy. Thus, Earth and Omega IV ("The Omega Glory") are democracies, polities that allow "full participation and public contestation of all policies." (185). The world of the Ferengi as well as Mr. Spock's Vulcan are "inclusive hegemonies," characterized "by a high degree of participation in the society, but with low contestation of governmental policies" (186). Cardassia and the Klingon Homeworld illustrate Dahl's "competitive oligarchy," characterized "by a high degree of contestation within the regime, but with restricted citizen participation" (188). A fourth ideal type, the "closed hegemony," limits "both participation and public contestation" (189), as in Ardana ("The Cloud Minders"), Gideon ("The Mark of Gideon"), and the attempt by Federation historian John Gill to recreate Nazi Germany on the planet Ekos ("Patterns of Force"). However, Dahl's earth-bound typology cannot account for all the governmental forms encountered in Star Trek scripts, which prompts Manuel to invent three more: the "computer-dominated closed hegemony," the "organic brain-dominated closed hegemony," and the "meta-governmental society." The spooky world of the Borg, who have now made their appearance even in the Star Trek: Voyager series, is a good example of the computer-dominated closed hegemony. Triskelion (from "The Gamesters of Triskelion") illustrates the organic brain-dominated closed hegemony. Organia ("Errand of Mercy") and the Q Continuum (first encountered in The Next Generation series) are meta-governmental societies, inhabited by "highly advanced, noncorporeal entities, who seem to have no need for government as we know it" (193). Manuel has done a splendid job of sorting out the polities of the Star Trek universe.

-W. Warren Wagar, Science Fiction Studies, #73, Volume 24, November 1997

The Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in Portugal: Political, Economic and Military Issues, 1976-1991
This study examines the process of democratic political consolidation as seen in Portugal. It considers how, by solving problems and fulfilling expectations, Portugal's relatively new democratic regime has improved its chances for long-term durability.

Reviews:
" Based on personal observations in villages and on recent scholarship, argues that the most fundamental problem for the government in Lisbon is not proving its legitimacy but demonstrating that democracy can solve practical problems and fulfill common people's expectations. Traces the government's approaches to political and economic instability, the challenge of the military, and democratic consolidation through economic growth and the National Assembly." -Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

" Professor Manuel, has provided us with a concise, well-written, well-researched contribution to Portuguese studies and democratization theory....Manuel's book has broad appeal not only for Portuguese scholars, but also for students of Portuguese and Mediterranean politics and economics, or of democratization theory in general....Manuel provides a welcome addition to other recent, very useful volumes on Portugal for classroom use." -South European Society & Politics

Uncertain Outcome:The Politics of the Portuguese Transition to Democracy
After two years of political and economic chaos, democracy emerged in Portugal. This book examines the fascinating period from 1974-1976 when the Portuguese transition to democracy was far from a simple question of volunteristic engineering. The author emphasizes that it involved a complex dynamic of interests, strategies, fears, wants, and goals among the multitude of players. The analytical focus on political factors in this book helps to reveal these crucial factors in a process that resulted in this successful emergence of democracy.

Reviews:
" Paul Christopher Manuel, Uncertain Outcome: The Politics of the Portuguese Transition to Democracy , gives and detailed and documented account of the politics and the factions of the MFA from 1974-1976." -Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan, Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and Post-Communist Europe, (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996), p. 122.

" Carefully researched and well argued. The style is clear and economical...very recommendable as a student text, especially for those with no previous knowledge of Portuguese affairs. A good text for students and a good read for specialists "-Nancy Bermeo, Princeton University, Political Studies