Chris Fleming's call in 2004 to take up René Girard's research programme has been convincingly answered by The Australian Girard Seminar and their distinguished guests. Volume Two of Violence, Desire, and the Sacred is important to anyone working in mimetic theory and a persuasive model for those who would productively integrate interdisciplinary researchers.

William A. Johnsen, Professor of Twentieth-century British Literature, Michigan State University, USA, and editor of Contagion: The Journal of The Colloquium on Violence and Religion

A half century after René Girard introduced the world to mimetic theory with a series of ground-breaking works on desire, rivalry, scapegoating, and sacrifice, Violence, Desire, and the Sacred-Volume Two, offers powerful testimony that mimetic theory continues to flourish. Following in the footsteps of Girard, whose explorations span the humanities and social sciences, the contributors to this interdisciplinary collection demonstrate how mimetic theory continues to illuminate a broad range of phenomena in areas such as politics, cultural studies, psychology, and literature. Including incisive analyses by well-known Girardian scholars as well as innovative and engaging commentaries by a new generation of researchers, this second volume builds on the promise of the first. Featuring theoretical perspectives as well as practical applications of mimetic theory, the essays in this collection demonstrate that mimetic theory remains a vital resource for all those who seek not only to understand the violence that imperils human existence but also to break its hold. Like a richly textured fabric, Violence, Desire, and the Sacred-Volume Two attracts and holds our interest, whether we examine the compelling pattern of the whole or focus on each vibrant thread.

Martha J. Reineke, Professor of Religion, University of Northern Iowa, USA

In a variety of approaches this collection explains, expounds, expands, criticizes, and, significantly, applies René Girard's mimetic theory. The reader comes away not only with a renewed appreciation of mimetic theory's vitality and versatility, but also with new eyes for reading the Psalms and American dystopian literature, for seeing the ecclesial sex abuse crisis and Australian politics, for looking at the war on terror and the scapegoating of cheerleaders. Very impressive.

Jeremiah Alberg, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, International Christian University, Japan