A Study in Political Theology from an American Seventh-day Adventist Professor (2023)

Gary Chartier, Christianity and the Nation-State: A Study in Political Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023. 325 pp.

”In Christianity and the Nation-State, Gary Chartier provocatively offers readers unexpected critical distance from some familiar ways of understanding, justifying, and navigating existing political arrangements. People in multiple societies are posing important questions about the authority and functions of the contemporary nation-state and about potential alternatives to this seemingly inescapable institution. Chartier seeks to develop a distinctive theological response to the conditions prompting these questions. Affirming liberalism and cosmopolitanism, he reflects critically on nationalism, localism, religious establishment, and theological accounts of political authority. He highlights links between sin and state power and underscores deficiencies in democratic rhetoric and theory. He rejects the idea of a global government, advocating a nonterritorial alternative he labels 'radical consociationalism. Moreover, he presents concrete suggestions for life under the rule of the state.’’

Description from the publisher’s website.

Reviews

‘The deep moral intelligence, theological acuity, and relentless intellectual honesty of Chartier’s argument set this book apart. And, perhaps needless to say, its challenge to Christian selfconsciousness could scarcely be more urgent at this moment.’
David Bentley Hart - Collaborating Researcher, University of Notre Dame

‘At a time when Christian nationalism is in the news, this book contributes to a broader and deeper tradition of Christian critique of the nation-state. Chartier’s fascinating proposal depends neither on pacifism nor on cosmopolitanism, but rather puts forward an updated ‘consociational’ model of overlapping and deterritorialized networks and communities building the common good. Both in its negative critique and its positive proposal, Chartier’s book is informed, provocative, and provides an antidote to today’s increasingly toxic politics.’
William T. Cavanaugh - Professor of Catholic Studies, DePaul University

‘Gary Chartier’s Christianity and the Nation-State is a bold, forceful critique of the authority of the nation-state from a Christian point of view. It should be read by Christian and non-Christian readers concerned with liberty, diversity, and the proper and improper use of coercion. His consociationalist model of governance is an important contribution to political theory and Christian theology.’
Charles Taliaferro - Boe Distinguished Professor Emeritus, St. Olaf College

‘Gary Chartier contends that the modern nation state is not just morally ambiguous, but is morally illegitimate, dangerous, and unnecessary. More boldly still, Chartier predicts that in due course, the international order of political states will dissipate and be replaced by a radically new global configuration of overlapping ‘consociational’ societies. He harbors hope that this radically new social order will generate unprecedented common global good. One does not have to accept this hope as plausible in order to appreciate the many strengths of Chartier’s main moral thesis. Beginning to end, he displays a wide-ranging command of the relevant scholarly literature, his analysis is incisive and penetrating, his arguments are finely nuanced and rigorous, and the discussion is rich in fresh insights and provocative perspectives. On the whole, this book is a very valuable contribution to both theological and broadly philosophical social moral theory and ethics.’
John Schneider - Professor of Theology, Emeritus, Calvin College

‘One can go a long way with Gary Chartier’s attempt to defend what he calls a ‘radical consociational society’ without finally eschewing all moral legitimacy to the notion of a state as such. A serious application of the principle of subsidiarity might bring us closer while still heeding the abusus non tollit usum caution. Professor Chartier’s theological examination of anarchy is informed and well argued. He puts into one place an articulate and theologically informed case for the stateless society.’
Robert A. Sirico - President Emeritus, Acton Institute

‘In this thought provoking book Gary Chartier challenges facile deductions from Scripture and assumptions taken from the natural law tradition. It is a valuable and innovative contribution to the Christian conversation about the ordering of society toward a peaceful and cooperative common good, that is so dear to Catholic social thought. The first impression is that of a radical book; then, you realize it’s reasonable: It uses radical language to make you think.’
Martin Schlag - Moss Professor of Catholic Social Thought, University of St. Thomas

‘Chartier has written a thought-provoking book on the necessity of consent for the legitimization of political associations. He carefully develops a non-pacifistic critique of the contemporary political state, and urges Christians who, without much, if any, reflection, possess a positive attitude toward the state in general and the nation-state in particular to think critically about their view. This is an important book.’
Stewart Goetz - Professor of Philosophy, Ursinus College

‘Gary Chartier’s Christianity and the Nation-State is a highly valuable exploration of possible social order without sovereign States. Regardless of whether or not one finally agrees with his proposals, everyone who is honestly engaged in thinking beyond the political status quo will benefit from reading his work. It is time for Christians to stop with half-way measures and rear-guard actions and start seriously, creatively thinking about politics. We are indebted to Chartier for showing us what this looks like.’
Andrew Willard Jones - Assistant Professor of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville

‘The temptation for the Church to identify its cause with the cause of a particular political entity, or to seek its goals by means of governmental force, is as old as Constantine. Drawing in part on the specific resources of the Christian tradition, and in part on arguments accessible to those of any creed or none, Gary Chartier makes a compelling case for a skeptical theological attitude toward the claims of the nation-state, and offers an inspiring vision of peaceful, diverse, creative, cosmopolitan human association where, in the words of Christ to his followers, the exercise of dominion and authority as practiced in the Gentile kingdoms ‘shall not be so among you.’
Roderick T. Long - Professor of Philosophy, Auburn University

‘Christianity and the Nation-State offers a formidable challenge to the idea of the state itself and forces readers to confront an enduring and alluring temptation, namely, to try to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God by seizing political power. Gary Chartier gives us reasons to resist.’
Art Carden - Professor of Economics, Samford University
Christianity and the Nation-State (cambridge.org)