The Church of England and Military Intervention, from Suez to Ukraine

The central questions shaping this book revolve around how the Church of England’s engagement in the public sphere has changed over time, and how Anglicans more broadly have participated in public debates over military intervention. The established church has sometimes been said to have ’voice, access and influence’, though the extent of this has clearly reduced over time according to some commentators, and it’s impact has been particularly limited when it comes to international affairs. Nonetheless, establishment does still bring certain advantages, and one of the questions we explore will be how that has changed over time, and whether the reduced social status of and support for traditional institutionalised religion has reduced the Church of England’s ability to contribute to debate and policy.

John Anderson is Professor of International Politics at the University of St Andrews