Mario Aguilar (academic)


Mario Ignacio Aguilar is the Chair of Religion and Politics at the School of Divinity of the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

Biography

He completed his PhD in Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Since joining the University of St Andrews in 1994 he has held various positions including, Dean of Divinity. Aguilar is also the current director and a founding member of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics based within St Mary's.
Aguilar's research includes what is considered to be the largest study of its kind, a ten-year research project on religion and politics in Tibet. The project reflects on the challenges that will be faced by the 15th Dalai Lama and how "Tibetans are going to manage religion and politics as two geographically separated entities within a Tibetan Buddhist practice that incorporates past histories and a Tibetan region that remains part of contemporary China." In addition in July 2012 De Gruyter announced the engagement of Aguilar as the general editor of a three volume Handbook on Liberation Theology.

Other Appointments and Responsibilities