The class exposes students to the systematic study of the following empirical question: "Is religion still an important influence in political affairs?" The question is examined across different levels of analysis (citizens, religious institutions, governments). Evidence is drawn from cross-national, longitudinal and single-case studies. The answer to the question is not obvious. Popular predictions and evidence regarding the decline of faith in the modern world are often pitted against religion’s continuing influence in the political affairs of various countries and regions: e.g. in post-1979 Iran; conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East; the Catholic Church’s contribution to democratisation in Latin America and Eastern Europe; the strength of the religious vote in the national elections of mature democracies; and fervent debates surrounding the European presence of Islam.