This study examines the impact of Buddhism on the political process of Asian countries in recent times. The intersection between Buddhism and politics; religious authority and political power is explored through the engagement of Buddhist monks and lay activists in the process of nation-building, development, and implementation of democracy.

Introduction to Buddhism and the Political Process: Patterns of Interaction; Ian Harris
2. On Being a Monk and a Citizen in Thailand and China; Thomas Borchert
3. U Nu's Liberal Democracy and Buddhist Communalism in Modern Burma; Hiroko Kawanami
4. Buddhist Monks and Democratic Politics in Contemporary Myanmar; Matthew Walton
5. Buddha or the Ballot: The Buddhist Exception to Universal Suffrage in Contemporary Asia; Tomas Larsson
6. Particularist Goals through Universalist Means: The Political Paradoxes of Buddhist Revivalism in Sri Lanka; Iselin Frydenlund
7. The 'Army of Buddhist Power' in Sri Lankan Politics; Mahinda Deegalle
8. The Buddhist State of Exception; Michael Jerryson
9. Tibetan Buddhist Leadership: Recent Developments in Historical Context; Bruce Knauft
10. Feeding a Scapegoat? The Political Function of Amoghavajra's Ritual Services in Protecting the Country; Martin Lehnert
11. Opium Eaters: Buddhism as Revolutionary Politics; James Mark Shields

In its interpretation of Buddhism both as a cultural heritage and social ideology, this edited volume seeks to understand how Buddhist values and world views have impacted on the political process of many countries in Asia. In their respective work in Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, Japan and Tibet, the contributors engage with an interactive typology originally proposed by the late Ian Harris, to whom the book is dedicated. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, they explore the interaction between Buddhism and politics, religious authority and political power, considering issues that concern the politicization of monks, proliferation of violence, leadership, citizenship, democracy and communalism in order to further understand the interface between Buddhism and politics in modern and contemporary times.

“This is an important and scholarly collection of case studies – a fitting memorial to Ian Harris – which should finally put to bed the notion that there can only be one kind of relationship between Buddhism and politics, namely, avoidance and pacifist moral guidance.” (David N. Gellner, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Oxford, UK)

“These essays cover a wide range of cases from throughout the Buddhist world and show that from statecraft to rebellion, Buddhist activists have been engaged in all levels of public life. This is an essential book for anyone concerned about the role of religion in politics around the globe.” (Mark Juergensmeyer, Professor of Sociology and Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA)

“The contributions … demonstrate well that Buddhism has had a long history of adapting to, shaping, and reacting to political authority as well as occasionally fostering true detachment from such authority.” (Charles Keyes, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and International Studies, University of Washington, USA)

"This is an important and scholarly collection of case studies - a fitting memorial to Ian Harris - which should finally put to bed the notion that there can only be one kind of relationship between Buddhism and politics, namely, avoidance and pacifist moral guidance." (David N. Gellner, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Oxford, UK) "These essays cover a wide range of cases from throughout the Buddhist world and show that from statecraft to rebellion, Buddhist activists have been engaged in all levels of public life. This is an essential book for anyone concerned about the role of religion in politics around the globe." (Mark Juergensmeyer, Professor of Sociology and Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA) "The contributions ... demonstrate well that Buddhism has had a long history of adapting to, shaping, and reacting to political authority as well as occasionally fostering true detachment from such authority." (Charles Keyes, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and International Studies, University of Washington, USA)