Professor John A. Rees

Professor John A. Rees

Professor of Politics & International Relations
Senior Research Associate, Institute for Ethics & Society
BTh, MA, MTh Hons, MA(IR), PhD

Email: john.rees@nd.edu.au
Phone: 02 8204 4131

  • Biography

    John A. Rees, PhD, is Professor of Politics and International Relations jointly appointed in the School of Arts & Sciences (Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Business & Law) and the Institute for Ethics & Society (Faculty of Education and Philosophy & Theology). His research focuses on the intersection of religion, nationalism, and international policy, as well as theories and methods in the social scientific study of religion. He is founder and co-convener of the IES Religion and Global Ethics program at Notre Dame Australia. Dr Rees is the 2022 Milward L. Simpson Visiting Fulbright Professor at the University of Wyoming. Among his numerous international academic commitments, John is Co-Chair of the International Development and Religion Program Unit of the American Academy of Religion. He has been recognised for excellence in university education by the Australian Government, and has presented his research to policy makers at the Parliament of Australia. Dr Rees has taught undergraduate and graduate classes in the United States, and delivered keynote public lectures and presentations in Australia, the United States, the Philippines and Europe. He holds a PhD (International Relations) from the University of New South Wales, and postgraduate research degrees in International Relations (UNSW), Ancient History (Macq), and Political Theology (SCD).

  • Teaching areas

    • Religion and world politics
    • International relations theory and practice
    • Foreign policy
    • Nationalism

  • Research expertise and supervision

    John has supervised PhD, MA, and MPhil candidates to completion on topics of religion and international relations, international policy regimes, political theory, and various aspects of Catholicism in global affairs. John is available to supervise Higher Degree Research projects in the following areas:

    • Religion and international relations (all aspects)
    • Nationalism theories and contexts
    • Foreign policy analysis

  • Research interests and current projects

    Fields of Research:

    • 500405 Religion, Society and Culture; 440808 International Relations

    Current Projects:

    • Religion and foreign policy – a framework for policy makers
    • Reimagining the concept of civil religion in global affairs
    • Religion and the political hermeneutics of material justice

  • Books

    • Rees, J.A. 2011. Religion in International Politics and Development: The World Bank and Faith Institutions (Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing)
    • Baldino, D., Lundberg, D., Pietsch J., Rees, J. 2011. Contemporary Challenges in Australian Security (Melbourne: Palgrave MacMillan)

  • Book chapters

    • Rees, J.A. 2021. ‘Religious Tradition and Secular Order: Catholic Globalism as Cooperation and Resistance’. S. Raudino, & U. Ashraf, eds. Religion and the Secular: Fracture and Composition (Hampshire, UK: Palgrave) forthcoming.
    • Rees, J.A. 2021. ‘Religion and Culture’ in S. McGlinchey, ed., International Relations: A Beginner’s Guide (London: MacMillan Higher Education). forthcoming.
    • Rees, J.A. 2021. 'Religion and Society' in J. Arvanitakis, ed., Sociologic: A Sociological Analysis of Everyday Life (Melbourne, Oxford University Press). forthcoming.
    • Rees, J.A. 2021. ‘Religion and Foreign Policy’ in J. Haynes ed. Handbook on Religion and International Relations (London, Edward Elgar). forthcoming.
    • Rees, J.A. 2017. ‘Religion and Culture’ in S. McGlinchey, ed., International Relations: A Beginner’s Guide (Bristol, UK: E-International Relations), pp.98-111.
    • Rees, J.A. 2016. 'The Nation and the State' in J. Arvanitakis, ed., Sociologic: A Sociological Analysis of Everyday Life (Melbourne, Oxford University Press), pp.179-196.
    • Rees, J.A. 2015. ‘Four Religion s of Foreign Policy’ in L. M. Herrington, A. McKay & J. Haynes, eds. Nations under God: The Geopolitics of Faith in the Twenty-First Century (Bristol, UK: E-International Relations), pp.45-55.
    • Rees, J.A. 2013. ‘International Financial Institutions and Religion’, in M. Clarke ed., Handbook of Research on Development and Religion (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing), pp.268-285.
    • Rees, J.A. 2012. ‘Really Existing Scriptures: on the use of sacred text in international affairs’, in D. Johnston and D. Hoover, eds. Religion and Foreign Affairs: Essential Readings (Baylor University Press), pp.109-118.
    • *John A. Rees, Case Studies (11 Chapters) in Devetak, R., George, J. & Percy, S. 2017. An Introduction to International Relations 3rd Edition (Melbourne: Cambridge University Press).

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    Editor: Journal special editions

    • Rees, J.A. & Smartt, eds. 2018. ‘The Politics of Religious Freedom in the Asia-Pacific.’ Journal of Religious and Political Practice. Vol. 4, Iss. 1
    • Rees, J.A., ed. 2017. ‘Reading Laudato Si’ in the Asia-Pacific.’ Philippiniana Sacra, Vol 52, No 157.

    Articles (Select)

    • Rees, J.A. ‘The Theological Turn in IR’ in J. Haynes, ed., ‘Special Issue - Religion and International Relations: What do we know and how do we know it?’ Religions, forthcoming.
    • Rees, J.A. 2021. ‘Religion, populism, and the dynamics of nationalism’, Religion, State & Society 49:3, 195-210, DOI: 10.1080/09637494.2021.1947111
    • Rees, J.A. 2021. ‘Massimo Faggioli, The Liminal Papacy of Pope Francis: Moving Toward Global Catholicity.’ Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 34, no. 1 (2021): 122–23. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.19817.
    • Rees, J.A. & Rawson, S.V. 2018/19. ‘The Resources of Religious Humanitarianism: the case of migrants on Lampedusa’. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion. 31.2: 172-191. doi.org.10.1558/jasr.36453
    • Rees, J.A. & Smartt, T. 2018. 'Beyond religious freedom: Asia-Pacific engagements in conversation with Elizabeth Shakman Hurd.' Journal of Religious and Political Practice, Vol 4.1, 1-8. DOI: 10.1080/20566093.2017.1396091
    • Rees, J.A. “Intersectionality, International Relations and the Possibility of Religion Policy.” Politics, Religion & Ideology 18, no. 1 (2017): 100–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/21567689.2017.1304849.
    • Rees, J.A. 2014. ‘Religion in the Syntax of Power: A Postsecular Perspective on International Relations.’ Politics, Religion & Ideology 15, no. 3: 456–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/21567689.2014.943360.
    • Rees, J. A. 2013 ‘Religion Research in International Relations: A Taxonomy.’ Australian Journal of Political Science 48, no. 1: 129–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/10361146.2013.765825.
    • McDuie-Ra, D., and Rees, J.A. (2010) ‘Religious Actors, Civil Society and the Development Agenda: The Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion.’ Journal of International Development 22, no. 1: 20–36. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.1537
    • Rees, J.A. 2007.  ‘Religion and Politics: Reviews.’ Millennium, vol. 35, 3: pp. 813-817
    • Rees, J.A. 2006. ‘The Shi’ites, the West and the Future of Democracy: Reframing Political Change in a Religio-Secular World.’ Portal 3, no. 1: 1–22. https://doi.org/10.5130/portal.v3i1.442.

  • Conference papers

    Select:

    • 2020. ‘The Sacred Dimension of Populism’, International Political Science Association Conference, Honolulu, 22 March. Invited to present as part of a panel with leading researchers Jeffrey Haynes, Jocelyn Cesari, Vendulka Kubalkova, and David Smith. Papers to form the core of a special issue of the journal Religion, State & Society.
    • 2019. ‘Motion or Mirage? Normative Institutional Change in Pre-Socratic Perspective’, School of Arts & Sciences and School of Philosophy & Theology Research Seminar Series, Notre Dame Sydney.
    • 2018. ‘Catholic Global Strategy: Environment, Justice and Peace’, International Political Studies Association Conference (panel with Jeff Haynes, Heba Adawy, Petr Kratochvil and Joseph Camilleri).
    • 2017. 'Global Institutions of Religion', Reimagining Difference: Being, Thinking and Practicing Beyond Essentialism. Centre for Religion, Conflict and the Public Domain, University of Groningen, 13-15 September.
    • 2016. 'Religion and International Development: Respondent to Luke Bretherton, Stephen Plant, Ashraf Adeel', American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, 21 November.
    • 2016. 'Religious literacy as a precursor to religious freedom in regional policy development', The Politics of Religious Freedom in the Asia-Pacific, The University of Notre Dame Australia, 15 September.
    • 2015. 'Human Flourishing and the "Good That Governments Do": a postsecular reading of state authority', COMIUCAP Conference, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, 20-22 July.
    • 2014. 'Four Religions of Foreign Policy', Oceanic Conference of International Studies, University of Melbourne, 4-6 July.
    • 2012. 'The Other Shia: Ismaili development practice in an age of "radical Islam" ', Oceanic Conference on International Studies, University of Sydney, 18 – 20 July.
    • 2010. 'The Dynamics of Religion at the World Bank', American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, 1 November.
    • 2008. ‘Modelling Religion in International Relations’, Oceanic Conference on International Studies, University of Queensland, July 2-4.
    • 2006. ‘IR and the New Religionism’, Oceanic Conference on International Studies, University of Melbourne, July 5-7.
    • 2005. ‘Ideology, Theology and the World Bank: Toward a Framework for Analysis’, Secularity and Globalization: What Comes After Modernity? (Keynote: Prof Peter Berger), Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 10-12 November.
    • 2005. ‘Religion and the World Bank: Toward an Ideological Analysis’, Department of Economics and International Development, University of Bath, UK, February

  • In the media

    Radio:

    • Monarchies Around the World. Nightlife with Suzanne Hill (ABC Radio). Guests: Robert Hazell, Professor of Government and Constitution at University College London; John Rees, Professor of International Relations at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney. January 9, 2020.
    • The People Vs Democracy (hosted by Josh Szeps). Radio National. Invited panellist, 24 March, 2019.
    • Politics & Society (with James Arvanitakis). Drive with Georgia Hitch. ABC Radio (monthly).
    • Discussing the political relevance monarchies and the death of the Thai King. Mornings with Genevieve Jacobs, ABC Local Radio 666, Canberra, 18 October, 2016.

    Blogs:

    • Megachurches and the Living Dead: Intersections of Religion & Politics in Korea, The Religion Gap, June 18, 2018.
    • Peter Berger - Four Benefits of His Work to the Study of Religion in IR, The Religion Gap, July 3, 2017.
    • The Prince, the Pope and a Populist Moment, The Religion Gap, February 11, 2018.
    • Why IR Religionists Should Watch Reza Aslan’s Believer, The Religion Gap, April 24, 2017.
    • "Son of Lies": History, Baghdadi and the Legacy of ISIS, The Religion Gap, June 22, 2016.
    • Citizens Not Zombies: Rethinking Assumptions about US Religious Voters, The Religion Gap, February 25, 2016.
    • Middle Power Religion, The Religion Gap, January 29, 2016.
    • The Francis Paradox: Papal Diplomacy in a Multipolar World, The Religion Gap, November 11, 2015.
    • Lest we forget: religion and the remembrance of war in a secular state, The Religion Gap, May 7, 2015.
    • To be, or not to be [reincarnated] - that is the [political] question, The Religion Gap, April 1, 2015.
    • Like it or not, monarchies are enduring for several reasons, The Conversation, June 7, 2014.
    • Religion and the Ukraine Crisis: Four Key Questions, Religion Factor, March 6, 2014.

    Television

    • Interview: 'Politics and Religion' Wesley Impact! TV. Broadcast Channel Nine 19 March, 2017.
    • Interview: On the historic meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, SBS World News, 13 February, 2016.

    Online:

    Magazine:

    • ‘Faith in America’, Hearts & Minds (Fulbright Australia), Issue 10, December 20, 2020, pp.14-15.

    Blogs:

    • ‘The architecture of peace: Pope Francis on social friendship and the hope for universal fraternity’ (Anna Rowlands, William Cavanaugh, Rosemary Hancock, Andrea Riccardi, Charles Camosy, Neil Ormerod, and John Rees), ABC Religion and Ethics, Sun 18 Oct 2020.

    Podcasts:

    • ‘Crisis in the USA’. Virtues for the Times. The Institute for Ethics & Society. June 4, 2020.

  • Professional affiliations

    • 2020+: International Advisory Board Member, International Journal of Religion.
    • 2020: External member, Course Development Committee: BA (Western Civilisation) / BA (Western Civilisation) (Honours), Australian Catholic University.
    • 2019+: Co-Chair, International Development & Religion Section, American Academy of Religion.
    • 2018+: Board Member (Oceania), Committee 43 ‘Religion and Politics’, International Political Science Association (IPSA).
    • 2017+: International Advisory Board Member, Philippiniana Sacra, University of Santo Tomas, Manila Philippines.
    • 2015+: Member, International Thomas Merton Society (ITMS).
    • 2014+: Fellow, Centre for Religion, Conflict and Globalisation, University of Groningen, Netherlands.

  • Community engagement

    Invited Lectures, Keynotes, Workshops

    • 2020. Quoted in the industry report Ethical Advantage (Deloitte Australia and The Ethics Centre, 2020)
    • 2019. Panelist, ‘Ethics, Opportunity and Risk in an Era of Corporate Social Accountability’. Roundtable with Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Clayton Utz, Governance Institute. Clayton Utz Chambers, Sydney, 15 October.
    • 2019. Keynote Presentation. ‘The Social License and Its Potential’, AFR Deloitte Banking & Wealth Summit, Darling Harbour, 26 March.
    • 2019. Keynote Public Lecture. ‘Inclusive Education: Transforming Lives & Building Nations.’ San Beda University, Manila, Philippines, 8 February.
    • 2018. ‘Foreign Policy and Religion: A Framework for Policymakers.’ University of Washington, WA, USA, 16 October.
    • 2018. Delegate: World Peace Day, Memorial Cathedral of World Peace, Hiroshima. 26 August.
    • 2017: Interfaith panel presentation: ‘The Politics of Religious Freedom: A Framework for Policymakers’. Amnesty International Parliamentary Group, Australian Federal Parliament, Canberra. 19 October.
    • 2017. ‘Thinking About Religion-State Relations Around the World.’ Education forum - NSW Parliament House, Sydney, 10 March.
    • 2015. ‘Religion in the Policy Arena.’ Invited presentation - professional development workshop: Australian Council for International Development Annual Meeting, Canberra, 31 October.
    • 2015. Panel Member: ‘One Day for Peace: religious diversity in Australia.’ Public Forum, Parramatta Town Hall. 23 September.
    • 2014. Seminar Presentation: ‘The Four Religions of Foreign Policy: Toward a New Strategic Dialogue.’ Religion and Society Research Group, Public Lecture and Q&A with Muslim delegation from Indonesia, School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, 19 November.
    • 2013. Undergraduate Teaching: ‘A History of Australia-US Relations’, University of Portland, February 20.

  • Industry engagement

    • 2020. Featured in the industry report Ethical Advantage (Deloitte Australia and The Ethics Centre, 2020)
    • 2019. Panelist, ‘Ethics, Opportunity and Risk in an Era of Corporate Social Accountability’. Roundtable with Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Clayton Utz, Governance Institute. Clayton Utz Chambers, Sydney, 15 October.
    • 2019. Keynote Presentation. ‘The Social License and Its Potential’, AFR Deloitte Banking & Wealth Summit, Darling Harbour, 26 March.

  • Awards

    • 2022: Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, Australia-US Fulbright Commission. Milward L. Simpson Visiting Fulbright Professor, School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies, University of Wyoming (January-May).
    • 2014: Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award, University of Notre Dame Australia
    • 2009: Citations Award for Teaching Excellence, Office of Learning and Teaching (formerly Australian Learning and Teaching Council), Australian Government
    • 2004: Dr Beth Blackall Prize for Postgraduate Research, Sydney College of Divinity