Buddhism and politics in twentieth-century Asia

Historically, Buddhism has prospered in societies organized in accordance with the socio-political teachings of the Buddha. The 20th century has been a particularly traumatic time in Buddhism's history, not least because traditional polities have been eroded. Disparate factors, such as war, modernity, westernization, nationalization, capitalism, communism and ethnic conflict, have made their presence felt in the religion's Asian heartlands. In this study a team of international scholars assess the manner in which Buddhist organizations and individuals have resisted, come to terms with, or in some cases allied themselves with these forces.