Development and Politics from Below

Religion is playing an increasingly central role in African political and developmental life. This book offers an empirical and theoretical reflection on the relationships between religion, politics and development in Africa; the meanings of religion in non-Western contexts and the way that is embedded in the everyday life of people in Africa.

'The editors of this volume pose major challenges to the research community: to re-evaluate the concepts, assumptions and methods that may veil rather than illuminate contemporary African societies and to develop a better understanding of the relationships between religion, politics, development and modernity. The authors of the individual chapters make a valuable contribution to this research agenda by examining aspects of the place of religion in public spaces; how religions function and shape people's lives, communities and organizations; and the role of religion in the sphere of health.' - Carole Rakodi, Director of the Religion and Development Research Programme, International Development Department, University of Birmingham, UK 'This groundbreaking volume makes a significant contribution to an emerging field in Development Studies. Drawing from a variety of disciplines, its wide-ranging and original set of essays demonstrates the centrality of religious ideas and practices - Traditional, Christian and Islamic - to contemporary African popular culture and their capacity to shape public life and politics. Focusing on the beliefs and passions of ordinary religious adherents, the essays make a compelling case for a holistic human centred model of development and highlight the inadequacy of hitherto dominant western secular models. The collection is required reading for policy makers, practitioners and researchers working in development.'- David Maxwell, Professor of African History, Keele University, UK

EZRA CHITANDO is Associate Professor in History and Phenomenology of Religion at the University of ZimbabweJAMES R. COCHRANE is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa; co-Principal of the African Religious Health Assets Programme (ARHAP); Director of the Research Institute on Christianity and Society in Africa (RICSA)STEPHEN ELLIS is Desmond Tutu Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Senior Researcher at the African Studies Centre in LeidenELIZABETH GRAVELING Lecturer in Development Studies in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, UK ERNEST T. MALLYA is Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Tanzania and the Deputy Principal responsible for Academics at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE)DOROTHEA E. SCHULZ is Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Cologne, GermanyDAVID E. SKINNER is Professor of History at Santa Clara University, USA ABDULKADER TAYOB is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Cape Town, South AfricaGERRIE TER HAAR is Professor of Religion and Development at the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The NetherlandsLINDA VAN DE KAMP is a Cultural Anthropologist and Researcher at the VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the African Studies Centre in Leiden