ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to provide an alternative view on the involvement of religious actors in international politics. Our analysis explores the agency of a religious actor, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), as demonstrated by its courses of action on the US bases agreement. We begin by situating religion along the paradigmatic boundaries of mainstream international relations (IR) theories, such as realism, liberalism, and constructivism. We argue that mainstream IR theories do not fully encapsulate the nuances of the role of the NCCP in IR. Through an analysis of resolutions, communiqués, pastoral letters, and key informant interviews, we look at the interplay between ‘secular’ and ‘religious’ reasoning in the formulation of the NCCP’s stance on the US bases. This reasoning, we argue, is borne out of the various statuses and role positions the agents see themselves occupying. We conclude the chapter by offering theoretical reflections for further studies.
