ABSTRACT
The political character and legal and social position of the variety of religious institutions are a starting point in understanding how they might link to development strategies and policies. National laws, their implementation, and broader cultural traits define the institutional context in which religious institutions operate, as do some elements of international law (notably in humanitarian situations). Each nation sets out (often in its constitution) how religious institutions and the state are to interact, either permitting or prohibiting direct religious engagement in various dimensions of national politics. These positions and arrangements vary widely and in a number of countries are undergoing significant change and contestation. The core relationship between religious and other institutions (often framed as a question of the degree of secular principles that underlie a nation’s governance approach) colors discussions of religion and development in each country (see for example Casanova 1994, Berger 1999, and Thomas 2005 for context on secular versus religious approaches). In some settings a secular ethos and expectation that “church and state” are separate suggest limited religious engagement on topics related to national development. In others (for example where there is an established religion), religious engagement is defined and expected. In still others, the question is contested or ambiguous.
