Allen D. Hertzke

Allen Hertzke is Professor of Political Science and Director of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He has taught at the university since 1986.

REPRESENTING GOD AT THE STATEHOUSE
Religion and Politics in the American States
Edward L. Cleary and Allen D. Hertzke, editors
Rowan & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (2005)

In recent years, interest in religion and politics at the national level has surged while extensive activity at the state level has gone largely unnoticed. Yet, with state government budgets increasing exponentially over the past three decades, churches and religious organizations are focusing tremendous energy and resources toward influencing the ways states are spending their money and governing their populace.

In this groundbreaking collection, Edward Cleary and Allen Hertzke bring together nine new essays that provide the first systematic, comparative view of religion and politics at the state level. These essays take an in-depth look at the pressing issues facing states across the nation and how religious lobbies and organizations are addressing them. By examining the responses of different denominations and their rationales for involvement, the contributors explore the enormous diversity of interests being represented at the state level. As highly controversial programs and laws continue to divide state governments, Representing God at the Statehouse provides an important look at the current state of religion and democracy.

List of Contributors
Charles S. Bullock III, Anne Marie Cammisa, Brian R. Calfano, Edward L. Cleary, Kevin R. den Dulk, Allen D. Hertzke, Carin Larson, David Madland, David B. Magleby, Elizabeth Oldmixon, Mary C. Segers, Peter VonDoepp, Clyde Wilcox, and David Yamane.

"This volume constitutes the first systematic comparative study of religion and politics at the state level. The various scholars assess the growing influence and expanding activities of religious interest groups in nine key states. The study contributes useful information on an important topic in a fair and readable fashion. Recommended." — Choice

"Cleary and Hertzke fill a critical void in the literature of both religion and political science by looking at the diverse and growing religious lobbying at the state level. Pulling together top-tier scholars from around the country, they have shown the new strength of organized religion on a new front, and have made sense out of religions' expanding agendas and unique actions." — Jo Renee Formicola, Professor of Political Science, Seton Hall University

"This pioneering study provides the first in-depth analysis of religion and politics at the state level. Representing God at the Statehouse has a first-rate collection of case studies that illuminate the increasingly significant role of religion in state politics, while also providing important theoretical insights on the changing role of interest groups in American politics." — Chris Soper, Blanche E. Seaver Professor of Political Science, Pepperdine University

"This fine collection of original essays tackles the efforts of religious groups to influence public policy at the state level—the very place where crucial decisions are made on topics ranging from marriage to schools. Representing God at the Statehouse takes a big step in filling a void in the literature." — John C. Green, Senior Fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life

FREEING GOD'S CHILDREN
The Unlikely Alliance for Global Human Rights
Allen D. Hertzke
Rowan & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (2004)

A new human rights movement burst unexpectedly onto the global stage. Motivated by concern for persecuted Christians around the world, unlikly alliances began to form, and the movement grew to encompass a broader quest for human rights. Hertzke tells the compelling story of this movement.

Why would liberal Jewish groups team up with conservative Pentecostals to fight human rights abuses? What issues might prompt the Catholic Church to work together with Tibetan Buddhists? In this engaging book, Hertzke, who teaches religion and political science at the University of Oklahoma, argues that 21st-century religious and political activism has made for some strange bedfellows. As religious persecution increases in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world—and most of the West continues to ignore the mounting death toll—some courageous people have banded together to fight for religious freedom and human rights around the world.

With surprisingly accessible writing and memorable stories of activists and the victims of religious persecution, Hertzke explores the rise of unexpected religious alliances in the struggles against sex trafficking, against the persecution of Christians in Indonesia and elsewhere, and against the atrocities in Sudan and the repression in Tibet. One startling trend that emerges is the new interest America’s evangelical Christians have evinced in world issues. Hertzke paints a fascinating, and ultimately optimistic, picture of the way that individuals of many different religious backgrounds have chosen to work together on human rights issues. In doing so, he analyzes a neglected aspect of the paradigm shift in religion today, in which affiliation matters far less than ideological affinity.

RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AMERICA
Faith, Culture, and Strategic Choices
Robert Booth Fowler, Allen D. Hertzke, Laura R. Olson, Kevin R. Den Dulk
Westview Press, third edition (2004) 

Religion and politics are never far from the headlines, but their relationship remains complex and often confusing. In this significantly revised third edition of Religion and Politics in America, the authors offer an accessible and balanced treatment of religion in American politics. They explore the historical, cultural, and legal contexts that underlie religious engagement while also highlighting the pragmatic and strategic political realities that religious organizations and people face.

Incorporating the best and most up-to-date scholarship, the authors assess the politics of Roman Catholics; evangelical, mainline, and African American Protestants; Jews; Muslims and other conventional and not-so-conventional American religious movements. The work examines important subjects concerning religion and its relationship to gender, race, and class. The treatment of recent voting behavior provides an in-depth understanding for students of how religion and politics relate in practice. These core topics, along with specific contemporary case studies, useful focus-study boxes, and new emphases on Islam, Latinos, international affairs, and popular culture, further enhance this third edition for courses in political science, religion, and sociology departments.

"This thoughtful new edition closely tracks the current salience of religion to the political system, while carefully placing these developments in historical and theoretical context. It will promote discussion of the key issues in the field in both introductory and upper level courses - a real achievement." — Paul A. Djupe, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Denison University

"Carefully re-organized and updated, the new edition builds on the impressive 2nd edition. Fresh insights abound in this accessible text." — Clarke E. Cochran, Texas Tech University

"Religion and Politics in America is an invaluable primer on this increasing important topic. Well-written, well-researched and up-to-date, it combines a broad vision of the role of faith in American public life with sensitivity to the nuances of religious communities." — John Green, Director, Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron

"This outstanding book is must reading for anyone interested in religion and politics in the United States. The authors provide a current, comprehensive, and accessible examination of an exceedingly important subject." — James M. Penning, Professor of Political Science, Calvin College

Praise for the previous edition...

"A thoughtful, well-balanced work... Few books provide as comprehensive a survey of religion and politics in America as this one... A valuable book for students and scholars of religion and politics in America." — Journal of Church and State

"(The authors) do the field of religion and politics a great service with this introductory yet sophisticated text." — Religion and Politics Newsletter

"An outstanding synthesis of historical, sociological, and cultural perspectives on religious activism and church-state issues in the U.S." — Theological Studies

"This book delivers handsomely on its title... The authors provide an insightful guide to both contemporary religion and contemporary politics in America. It is essential reading for those who would understand the often confusing cultural churnings that are transforming our public life." — Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, Author of The Naked Public Square; editor in chief of First Things

ECHOES OF DISCONTENT
Jesse Jackson, Pat Robertson, and the Resurgence of Populism 
Allen D. Hertzke 
Congressional Quarterly Books (1993) 

Synopsis—This book about the role of religion in politics "focuses on the 1988 presidential campaigns of Jesse Jackson and Pat Robertson....The first two chapters treat the intellectual and historical association between religion and populism. The next four chapters turn attention to sketches of the personal, spiritual, and political development of Jackson and Robertson; the role played by the churches identified with each candidacy; how religious activists came to be a force within each of the major political parties; and the characteristics, political opinions, and policy views of Jackson and Robertson voters. The book concludes with an...analysis of the future challenges represented by these two candidacies." (Choice)

From the Publisher—In a book based on four years of research, including interviews with both candidates, Hertzke probes how the Jackson and Robertson presidential campaigns were ignited by a profound sense of moral and economic crisis, how they became powerful leaders outside the political mainstream, and how their parties responded to the discontent.

From C.O. Jones, CHOICE—This [is a] most interesting and highly recommended book.... Hertzke (Univ. of Oklahoma) relies on survey, interview, and observational data, as well as historical and documentary sources. The book is clearly and logically organized...

From BOOKNEWS, May 1, 1993—Hertzke examines the 1988 presidential campaigns of Jackson and Robertson, showing how the messages of both political-religious figures echo an enduring tension in American life between Christian, communal ideals and a materialistic, fragmented society. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

From Michael Kazin, THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY—
A crisp, anecdotal narrative takes Jackson from his exhortatory niche at Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity) in the 1970s through the contentious events of 1984 and the primary victories of 1988....Hertzke illustrates how Robertson's mobilization of his fellow charismatics challenged 'country-club' Republicans for control of the party structure in several states andinfluenced the rhetoric of the national ticket in both 1988 and 1992. It is a fine summary of two of the major forces (not including Ross Perot) that have confounded scholars seeking to plot a tidy new partisan realignment..."

THE ATOMISTIC CONGRESS
An Interpretation of Congressional Change 
Allen D. Hertzke, Ronald M. Peters, Jr., editors 
M.E. Sharpe, Inc. (1992)

"A selection of papers from an April 1990 Carl Albert Center conference commemorating the bicentennial of the US Congress and the centennial of the U. of Oklahoma. The conference was entitled "Back to the Future: the US Congress in the 21st Century," and its focus was on change and candidate -centered politics as well as on institutional change." (Book News, Inc., August 1, 1992) 

"Two scholars connected with the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center have put together an interesting volume of papers....Commenting on changes that resulted from the reforms of the 1970s, the various authors explore a Congress that was seriously altered by the forces of change unleashed by Watergate and its aftermath and the subsequent arrival of candidate-centered politics....Among the excellent selections in this volume are those on the evolution of House party leadership, Senate Democratic leadership, and the quality of congressional (House and Senate) challengers in elections in the 1980s. The selections are well documented." (W.K. Hall–Choice) 

"Two pieces are outstanding: Charles Stewart III's treatment of how party leaders, even at the supposed peak of their influence in the Reed and Cannon days, are at the mercy of their followers; and Barbara Sinclair's examination of the contextual factors leading to strong party leadership in the House—mostly the size and ideological homogeneity of the Democratic Party. All of the other essays are worthwhile...." (Eric M. Uslaner–The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science) 

REPRESENTING GOD IN WASHINGTON
The Role of Religious Lobbies in the American Polity
Allen D. Hertzke
University of Tennessee Press (1988)

"Examining "Jewish, Roman Catholic, liberal 'mainline' Protestant, 'peace' Protestant, evangelical, and fundamentalist interest groups, the book [tries to] illuminate the tensions between religious values and strategic political realities in contemporary America....Hertzke argues that, under certain circumstances, church lobbying organizations articulate the values of many citizens and so act to correct, in part, the elitist bias of the national 'pressure system.' He compares mass public opinion data with the activities of religious leaders [in an attempt] to suggest just how accurately leaders' public positions reflect the attitudes of ordinary church members. The author concludes that religious political engagement...mirrors the theological, organizational, ethnic, and regional diversity of American religion." (from publisher) 

"This book focuses on one aspect of the politics of religion: Washington representation. As such, it is a unique and timely work based on interviews with policy activists that reminds readers that there is far more to the lobbying of organized religion than the media and press usually recognize....Although Hertzke emphasizes the congressional politics of organized religion, he also offers a valuable discussion of the relationships between dominant activist interest elites and the often ill-informed church congregations that support them....this persuasive research effectively explains how religious interests broaden pluralistic representation through their diversity and the issues they bring to the policy-making arena. Numerous audiences including interest group scholars will find this interesting reading. (W.P. Browne–Choice) 

"[This] is a thoroughly useful piece of work documenting the increasing strength and number [of religious lobbies in Washington]...There is a touch of modest advocacy in Hertzke's book. He argues that religious lobbying is able to articulate the pluralism of America, though only for so long as it does not destroy the solidarities of religious bodies by total politicization." (David Martin–The Times Literary Supplement)

"Hertzke provides an excellent summary of current religious lobbies seeking to influence national policy. He covers the spectrum of political and religious views, considering those as diverse as NETWORK, an organization of Catholic nuns, and the Moral Majority. He makes a fine case that religious lobbies allow non-elite representation in Washington and shows real mastery of interviewing as a research technique in political science. One of the few revised dissertations that should be widely read by both academic and nonacademic audiences." – Susan A. Stussy, Marian College Library, Indianapolis (from Library Journal) 

"The best part of [Hertzke's] book is based on his extensive interviews with congressional aides and with 30 lobbying groups representing the full rangeof American religion.... Hertzke suggests that the consensus-building practices of Congress are better for settling religious disputes than are confrontations in court. He illustrates this point in fascinating detail through the story of the Equal Access Act of 1984, a story that should be more widely known....The book supports the author's conclusion that 'to ignore the religious...is in effect to ignore the real-life experience, values, and interests of most American citizens.'... The book also makes clear that religious lobbies may be essential for keeping Congress informed on foreign affairs. As worldwide organizations, churches are likely to be a more reliable source of information than the administration itself." (W. Dean Hopkins – The Christian Century)