Prioritizing Faith: International Religious Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy

Uncovers the political, ideological, and bureaucratic forces that shaped the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and its legacy across the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 formally established the promotion of religious freedom as a U.S. foreign policy and national security priority. Tracing its origins and passage, Prioritizing Faith shows how the legislation was made possible by the convergence of growing evangelical and Jewish advocacy, the expanding international human rights movement, and a broader search for post-Cold War purpose.Yet implementation across administrations has been uneven, shaped by shifting geopolitical dynamics and internal institutional constraints. Relying on expert interviews and rich archival analysis, Ashlyn W.Hand traces how Clinton, Bush, and Obama each wove international religious freedom into their foreign policy visions while navigating competing priorities and evolving strategic interests.