Mark Juergensmeyer

Mark Juergensmeyer (born 1940 in Carlinville, Illinois) is an American sociologist and scholar specialized in global studies and religious studies, and a writer best known for his studies on comparative religion, religious violence, and global religion. He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and William F. Podlich Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Religious Studies at Claremont McKenna College.
Juergensmeyer is regarded as an expert on religious violence, conflict resolution, and South Asian religion and politics and has published thirty books and over 300 articles. He has been a frequent commentator on news programs, especially after 9/11.