The relationship between the UK Government and faith groups : the case of international development policies from 1992 to 2011

• Main Author: Kwayu, Aikande Clement
• Published: University of Nottingham 2012
• Subjects: 338.9141
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.582010

This thesis analyses the relationship between the UK government and faith groups in regards to international development policies. The thesis contributes to the International Relations literature on the role of religion in international affairs by investigating and analysing the impact of the resurgence of religion in international affairs on government policies. For this reason, the thesis examines the causes of policy change, which in turn may have led to and affected the government's relationship with faith groups. The findings show that there is a relationship between government and faith groups, but that the levels of this relationship fluctuate depending on various factors. These factors include: the resurgence of religion in international affairs; the attitudes of politicians and political parties towards the third sector (i.e. voluntary and private sectors); and the rising prominence of the international development agenda in British politics. The impact of each of these factors on the relationship between the government and faith groups are not mutually exclusive. Thus, the resurgence of religion in international affairs can only partly explain the relationship between the government and faith groups. At a general level, the thesis reflects on the positive role of religion in international affairs, particularly in the fight against global poverty, and relates the UK government's international development policies to the wider scholarly discourse on 'faith and development' and its implication in the role for the role of religion in international politics.