Religion in International Relations Scholarship: Subject of Cognition or Agent of Perception?

This research aims to examine the role of religion and the proper approach to it in international relations. The study's primary question is whether, from the perspective of existing international relations theories, we can consider religion and study its dimensions and aspects or if religion itself can act as an agent, providing an independent perspective and worldview for understanding and interpreting the world. The research method is descriptive-analytical, and the results indicate that both assumptions are conceivable in the current context. Religion can serve as an independent or dependent variable, the subject of study in various international relations theories, and, given the conceptual limitations of these theories in understanding and interpreting the behavior of religious actors arising from fundamental theoretical differences, it can offer researchers an independent perspective and worldview. However, while exploring the reasons for the inadequacy of existing theories in explaining the comprehensive role of religion, this research emphasizes the necessity of independent theoretical development of religion as an active agent. Proving the second assumption will lay the groundwork for forming a religious theory in international relations.