René Kuppe

Richard Potz

Volume 7 of "Law and Anthropology" brings together a collection of studies that discuss legal problems raised by cultural differences between people and the law to which they are subject. This volume developed from the idea that it can be useful to consider current discussions in various legal systems facing issues of cultural difference that cannot be regarded as legal problems related to indigenous societies alone. The book focuses on contradiction between national law and complex and diverse kinship structures, which are essential for the cultural identity of both indigenous groups and cultural minorities. The social construction of gender relations and gender conflicts is an important theme in many essays. Some of the essays examine the area of conflict between cultural practices and universal human rights standards. The demand for cultural rights may collide with human rights standards, especially with the principles of gender equality. This volume will be of great interest to academics and to all those with practical involvement in the field of cultural pluralism. Previously published by VWGO Verlag in Austria, "Law and Anthropology" will be published and distributed by Martinus Nijhoff Publishers from Volume 7 onwards.

Law and Anthropology: International Yearbook for Legal Anthropology

Hans Kelsen

Despite reworking and rewriting ‚Secular Religion‘ for about ten years Hans Kelsen finally withdrew the text from printing in 1964. After long and careful consideration the Hans Kelsen-Institut has now decided to lift the veil on Kelsen’s somewhat mysterious last book and to bring ‚Secular Religion‘ to a wider public. In this book Kelsen vehemently opposes any attempt to discredit modern science as failed religion, a view prominently held by Kelsen‘s former student Eric Voegelin. Any contemporary trend towards a ‚new‘ de-secularization will have to face Kelsen’s criticism. Furthermore, as Kelsen convincingly demonstrates, any trend towards a ‚new‘ theologization holds the danger of totalitarianism. In this context Kelsen’s text from 1964 offers an excellent contribution to a current discussion.

A Polemic against the Misinterpretation of Modern Social Philosophy, Science and Politics as „New Religions“

Secular Religion

Kurt Appel

Jakob Helmut Deibl

Isabella Guanzini

Sieglinde Rosenberger

Rüdiger Lohlker

Christian Danz

Sigrid Müller

Rudolf Langthaler

Lukas Pokorny

Hans Gerald Hödl

Hans Schelkshorn

The term “Crisis of Representation” rose to fame through Michel Foucault. The crisis, in the context of this issue, has not only a political and economic dimension, but a cultural, aesthetic and religious one as well. Thus, a serious inquiry into this complex and multidimensional phenomenon requires an interdisciplinary approach. The issue targets the phenomena at hand through 15 contributions – all with unique and innovative approaches to the topic. One common aim that holds the issue together is the analysis of the nature of the crisis, which helps to find suitable theoretical frameworks. On the other hand, the term itself functions as a tool that enables the analysis of specific societal developments. Contributing authors brought with them expertise from their respective fields including philosophy, political sciences, theology, Islamic studies and religious studies. This allowed for a cross-disciplinary approach on the phenomenon with special foci on politics, religions, societies and finance, as well as theoretical developments on current philosophical and post-colonial discourses.

The Crisis of Representation

The articles of the sixth issue of the Interdisciplinary Journal for Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society debate war morals and religion from a longterm historical perspective. The issue brings together researchers from various sciences – history, theology, literary studies, philosophy, and sociology – in order to present recent insights into theories and experiences of war with special emphasis on religion. By focusing on the commitment of combatants and commitments to enhance peace, the contributors provide new insights from a fresh and still unusual perspective. They will spur further discussion of moral commitment in war ethics, the role of religion in war, and of the prospect of peace ethics. Religion played a major role in the life of combatants and non-combatants in WWI, the “seminal catastrophe” (George Kennan) of the 20th century. Religion remains a multi-faceted and steady aspect of warfare that, in some respects, serves as a peace-enhancing worldview.

Interdisciplinary Journal for Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society (J-RaT) Vol. 4, Issue 1

Moralities of Warfare and Religion

Law and Anthropology

The "Law & Anthropology Yearbook" brings together a collection of studies that discuss legal problems raised by cultural differences between people and the law to which they are subject. "Volume 8" contains a selection of edited papers presented at the VIth International Symposium of the Commission on Folk Law and Legal Pluralism, dealing with the topic of Indigenous Self-Determination and Legal Pluralism'.

Richard Potz

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