MF welcomed Andreas Holmedahl Hvidsten as a postdoctoral fellow in October, and he has now been welcomed as a Research Member at MF CASR.

Hvidsten’s project focuses on how to theorize religion in international politics. Modern theories of international politics, which were developed in a secular, social-scientific context, generally exclude religious concepts. For many times this was not recognized as a problem. However, since the end of the Cold War—and particularly since 2001—religion has made a comeback in the study of international relations. This development has forced international relations studies as a field to reconsider its secular heritage. Part of this reconsideration concerns how to incorporate religion into its basic theories. Two camps have formed: those who believe religion can be adequately handled by existing theoretical categories such as “national interests” and “identity”—and those who believe that the resurgence of religion necessitates a fundamental reorientation of our basic concepts for understanding international politics. Hvidsten hopes to answer some of these controversies by contributing to a historical genealogy of the religious element in international-political thought.

When asked about his membership with MF CASR, Hvidsten replied, “I am thrilled to be a part of MF—and MF CASR—which seems like exactly the right place for asking the questions that my project focuses on.”

MF CASR is very excited for Hvidsten's membership, and for the contributions his project will make.

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