In Print

Interfaith Encounters in America, Kate McCarthy (Rutgers University Press, 2007, $22.95 paperback)

In this compact but expansive study, Kate McCarthy surveys the place of religious pluralism in contemporary American culture. Recognizing that inter-religious contact occurs within “often asymmetrical systems of power and privilege that are prominent features of global societies,” McCarthy sets out to identify when, where, why, and between whom this dialogue occurs in the United States. The study covers extensive ground, with chapters on current theoretical approaches to religious diversity, political activism, community organizations, inter-religious families, and online discourses. McCarthy finds that somewhere between fundamentalism and assimilation, religious pluralism is “alive and well.”

The Clash Within: Democracy, Religious Violence, and India’s Future, Martha C. Nussbaum (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007, $29.95 hardcover)

Taking India, and specifically the state of Gujarat, as a case study, Martha Nussbaum examines the complex and sometimes contentious relationship between religious diversity and democratic values. In Nussbaum’s exploration, the tragic deaths of Hindu pilgrims as a result of a 2002 train fire forms the nexus of an exposition into religious fundamentalism in Indian culture—and the complicated relationship between religion and democracy. Nussbaum’s analysis deconstructs the idea of a “clash of civilizations,” smartly shifting from an external analysis (of “East vs. West”) to explore the internal tensions (isolationism vs. global-mindedness) that prohibit and propel democratic citizenship. Her analysis is relevant not just to India, but to any pluralistic democracy in the modern world.

Race, Poverty, and Social Justice: Multidisciplinary Perspectives Through Service Learning, José Z. Calderón, Ed. (Stylus Publishing, LLC, 2007, $27.50 paperback)

Diversity & Democracy advisory board member José Calderón promotes inclusive pedagogies geared toward democratic action with this collection of articles on service learning. Drawing from a theoretical perspective based in part on Paulo Freire’s pedagogies and AAC&U’s ongoing diversity initiatives, Calderón compiles a collection designed to advance service learning “beyond volunteerism (or charity) to a level of civic engagements that advances social justice in our institutions and a democratic culture in a civil society.” With topics ranging from day laborer centers and homelessness to preparing the student for life in a diverse global society, the collection provides practical strategies for achieving transformative learning in multiple contexts.

Diversity Across the Curriculum: A Guide for Faculty in Higher Education, Jerome Branche, John Mullennix, and Ellen R. Cohn, Eds. (Anker Publishing Company, Inc., 2007, $40.00 hardcover)

This guidebook to integrating diversity throughout the curriculum is an excellent source for educators, particularly faculty members working to infuse diversity within their disciplines. Beginning with a multiarticle overview of the challenges of diversifying the curriculum, the book contains brief summaries of both institution-wide and discipline-specific approaches to diversity. Several articles detail specific institutional diversity initiatives, while faculty members present discipline-specific teaching methods in sections on the humanities, the health sciences, and the natural and social sciences. This collection presents a broad range of possible approaches to diversity and showcases classroom tools for encouraging students’ engagement with difference.