Bettina Koch

this volume explores theoretical discourses in which religion is used to legitimize political violence. It examines the ways in which Christianity and Islam are utilized for political ends, in particular how violence is used (or abused) as an expedient to justify political action. This research focuses on premodern as well as contemporary discourses in the Middle East and Latin America, identifying patterns frequently used to justify the deployment of violence in both hegemonic and anti-hegemonic discourses. In addition, it explores how premodern arguments and authorities are utilized and transformed in order to legitimize contemporary violence as well as the ways in which the use of religion as a means to justify violence alters the nature of conflicts that are not otherwise explicitly religious. It argues that most past and present conflicts, even if the discourses about them are conducted in religious terms, have origins other than religion and/or blend religion with other causes, namely socio-economic and political injustice and inequality. Understanding the use and abuse of religion to justify violence is a prerequisite to discerning the nature of a conflict and might thus contribute to conflict resolution.

This volume explores theoretical discourses in which religion is used to legitimize political violence. It examines the ways in which Christianity and Islam are utilized for political ends, in particular how violence is used (or abused) as an expedient to justify political action. This research focuses on premodern as well as contemporary discourses in the Middle East and Latin America, identifying patterns frequently used to justify the deployment of violence in both hegemonic and anti-hegemonic discourses. In addition, it explores how premodern arguments and authorities are utilized and transformed in order to legitimize contemporary violence as well as the ways in which the use of religion as a means to justify violence alters the nature of conflicts that are not otherwise explicitly religious. It argues that most past and present conflicts, even if the discourses about them are conducted in religious terms, have origins other than religion and/or blend religion with other causes, namely socio-economic and political injustice and inequality. Understanding the use and abuse of religion to justify violence is a prerequisite to discerning the nature of a conflict and might thus contribute to conflict resolution.

Diese Studie versteht sich als Beitrag zur Sozial- und Verfassungsgeschichte des spaten Mittelalters. Sie untersucht den zahlenmassigen wie den sozialen Wandel der politischen Funktionselite im Verlauf des 15. Jahrhunderts. Dies wird durch eine differenzierte prosopographische Betrachtung von Herkunft, Ausbildung, Karrieren und materieller Versorgung ihrer Mitglieder moglich. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass verstarkt seit den 1430er Jahren neben dem Konig auch alle bedeutenderen Fursten und grosseren Stadte Juristen als Rate, Gesandte und Diplomaten in ihre Dienste nahmen. Neben drei unterschiedlichen Karrieretypen werden vier regionale Arbeitsmarkte herausgearbeitet. Inhaltliche Aspekte der gelehrten Tatigkeit verdeutlicht die Analyse des Reichstags von 1471."