Global Secularisms addresses the state of and prospects for secularism globally. Drawing from
multiple fields it brings together theoretical discussion and empirical case studies that
illustrate on-the-ground extant secularisms as they interact with various religious political
social and economic contexts. Its point of departure is the fact that secularism is plural and
that various secularisms have developed in various contexts and from various traditions around
the world. Secularism takes on different social meanings and political valences wherever it is
expressed. The essays collected here provide numerous points of contact between empirical case
studies and theoretical reflection. This multiplicity informs and challenges the conceptual
theorization of secularism as a universal doctrine. Analyses of different regions enrich our
understanding of the meanings of secularism providing comparative range to our notions of
secularity. Theoretical treatments help to inform our understanding of secularism in context
enabling readers to discern what is at stake in the various regional expressions of secularity
globally. While the bulk of the essays are case-based research the current thinking of leading
theorists and scholars is also included.
