Tom Banchoff Addresses American Civil Religion in a Multipolar World

Speaking at the University of Muenster in Germany, Berkley Center Director Tom Banchoff told students that as the world grows more multipolar, the United States must find ways to lead more effectively through multilateral partnerships and multilateral institutions. He explained that such a collaborative style of leadership runs up against a tenet of American civil religion—namely, that the United States is a nation blessed by God, whose national interests and ideals are aligned with Divine Providence.

The talk explored the future of American civil religion in a multipolar world one day after President Barack Obama's second inaugural address, which laid out the foreign policy vision for his second term in office.

An article about Banchoff's lecture is available on the University of Muenster website.