Introduction

Since the early 1990s, a group of scholars has criticized International Relations (IR). They argue that the field wrongly ignores the role of religion in international relations, especially since there has been a global resurgence of religion since the 1960s. The consequences of this could be dramatic: inadequate theories lead to inadequate policies. This group of scholars – so-called religionists – therefore advocates that more attention should be paid to the role of religion within IR. In order to assess the validity of this claim, I set out that an in-depth study and analysis of the dominant realist theories is necessary. This analysis will bring a new perspective to the discussion on religion and international relations when insights from the Amsterdam School of Philosophy are used. As a result, I draw attention to the worldview dimension of the debate. This reveals how pre-scientific assumptions and political–theological ideas shape the debate and the view on religion and international relations.