IPSA is not a national association and thus by definition it is not competing with national or regional academic gatherings such as The Religion and Politics Section of APSA. Not only APSA has a religion and politics section. There is also a Standing Group on Religion and Politics of the European Consortium for Politics research, while ISA organizes a panel or two at its annual conventions. In addition, there are outreach academic, semi academic organizations such as the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), the Pew Foundation, and the FPRI to name but a few. 

Since 9/11 the interest in the subject of religion and politics and particularly religion and international politics has grown exponentially. We all share interest in the topic but RC 43 as a part of IPSA differs in the truly global scope of its institutional base unparalleled by any other organization. At the 20th World Congress in Fukuoka in 2006 there were 3000 participants representing 120 countries most of them affiliated to their countries’ political science associations. Whilst the composition of the new executive does not (yet) reflect the broad base we intend to engage as varied participation as possible.  The exact program will depend on the response to this initial newsletter.

Religion and Politis to follow this pattern.