Whether as local peace actors and mediators or as providers of humanitarian aid, religious institutions have a role to play in conflict resolution. During the Cold War, religious as well as ethnic and nationalist conflicts were relatively neglected in the study of international relations and peace research. ����r��/�ߥn�Zn?��Sc�^4�?w�ƶ,����w����s���?��I�}�x�zh�Qz{N�eۡ� �����MW��f>4|M�#}�FN���۹�gb[jd��m����a�ĆI ����w�Z��{z��t�ecb���s��a�������AY�����y����N����Ec��Kl l�lU�[lYذK{u���ط���]_��3=��Ze/]�u�Fo��i���}���N Along the way, their first stop is South Asia, which this report defines as comprising eight countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—along with the Indian Ocean (particularly the eastern portions but with implications for its entirety). Religion is not usually the sole or even primary cause of conflict. After the implosion of the communist block, the escalation of nationalist violence was a surprise. This report represents reflections on that experience. In recent decades, religion has assumed unusual prominence in international affairs. The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kroc Institute. Friday, February 1, 2008 Press <> stream Why Care? Religious communities also directly oppose repression and promote peace and reconciliation. Underlying reasons why religions cause division and violent conflict; and; The potential of religion and spirituality to build peace and establish the foundations of just governance could be tapped. The United States and India inked on October 27 a key agreement that will help New Delhi get real-time access to American geospatial intelligence. Religion can be the motivator or catalyst for bringing about peace through ending conflict as well as helping to build strong social cohesion. No major religion has been exempt from complicity in violent conflict. "Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.” Religion has a dual legacy in human history regarding peace and violence. when the Iranians, who made the revolution a success and subsequently assumed position of power and authority in the government administration, formulated the state policy of their liking. Religion and peacebuilding Religion, Conflict and Peace. These three components of Dr. Mani’s research project are briefly described below. ��~�խ�Ə����v+��e/�4�No�Vnt3 Take course on. • Nuclear weapons, including nuclear deterrence. Course language. Type Course Institution ... economic, and cultural life, as is often assumed. Grants & Fellowships USIP China-South Asia Senior Study Group. It was only recently that IR began to consider the role of culture and religion in war and peace. Yet we need to beware of an almost universal propensity to oversimplify the role that religion plays in international affairs. There is no evidence to indicate that particular religious traditions are, by virtue of their theology, more prone to violence or more likely to lead to conflict or peace than others. The "war on terrorism," the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the seemingly interminable and intractable religious-ethnic-nationalist conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere have contributed to a dramatic reexamination of the role of religion in conflict and peacebuilding, as well as the moral norms governing the role of military force. Religion, Conflict and Peace Watch here www.edx.org . It is published by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame.. Despite an increase in the attention to the religious dimension of conflicts, it remains an under-researched field. Connect By: Religion and culture have historically been neglected in international relations (IR) theories and in political science more generally. China has embarked on a grand journey west. Religion is not usually the sole or even primary cause of conflict. The Bible does not clearly answer questions of war and peace but gives Christians guidelines on how to work for peace and justice. Pace. Blog, The United States Institute of Peace Legal and Privacy Information | FOIA Inquiries, Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Jacob Stokes on China’s Influence in South Asia, China’s Influence on Conflict Dynamics in South Asia, Spurred by China Rivalry, U.S., India Deepen Strategic Ties, Scott Smith on U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan, 'Europe's last dictator' clings to power despite protesters' demands - Washington Times, Is an alleged drug kingpin from China investing millions in a port in Laos? If the U.S. government is to insert itself into international conflicts or build deeper and more productive relationships with countries around the world, it needs to devise a better strategy to effectively and respectfully engage with the religious realm. Furthermore, religion can act as a form of social cohesion and, like membership of other groups, greater involvement in society can strengthen the bonds between citizens strengthening the bonds of peace. Individuals, institutions and governments pursuing peace in the coming decades will increasingly rely on the ability to skillfully dialogue with religious traditions and communities to achieve lasting solutions to conflict. A religious war or holy war (Latin: bellum sacrum) is a war primarily caused or justified by differences in religion.In the modern period, debates are common over the extent to which religious, economic, or ethnic aspects of a conflict predominate in a given war. Interfaith dialogue is another form of religious peacemaking. Home to about 2 billion people, South Asia has become a strategic focal point for China’s growing global influence. Our religious practice should bring positive change to society and enhance mutual relationships among us in order to live in peace with one another. Some religious figures have been able to use their positions of authority to work toward peace and to forward the cause of justice. Officials in Beijing are driven by aspirations of leadership across their home continent of Asia, feelings of being hemmed in on their eastern flank by U.S. alliances, and their perception that opportunities await across Eurasia and the Indian Ocean. Religious affiliation and conviction often motivates religious communities to advocate particular peace-related government policies. %PDF-1.4 The horrendous events of 9/11, the conflagration in Iraq, and the aggressive assertiveness of quasi-theocratic Iran only confirm in the popular mind that religion lies behind much of contemporary international conflic. This form of religious peacemaking garners less public attention but is growing in importance. One of the dramatic changes that the peace treaty with the Emirates and Bahrain carried on its wings is “religious normalization” in the form of Muslim tourism to the Temple Mount and Jerusalem, which will come from countries that have no formal ties with Israel. The horrendous events of September 11, the conflagration in Iraq, and the aggressive assertiveness of quasi-theocratic Iran only confirm in the popular mind that religion lies behind much of contemporary international conflict. Recognising the complex nature of religion does not replace work required to address other conflict and peace-related issues such as deprivation, marginalisation, institutional and state failure etc. %�쏢 Search for experts, projects, publications, courses, and more. 1. Rather than seeking to resolve a particular conflict, it aims to defuse interfaith tensions that may cause future conflict or derive from previous conflict. • The use of weapons of mass destruction. In the Islamic history, conflict between religion and politics settled after the Abbasid revolution (750.A.D.) This aspect of religion and conflict is discussed in the parallel essay on religion and peace. English; Video Transcript. As respected members of society, individual national religious leaders have often been at the forefront of e… The article then cites statistics from a public opinion survey in Nigeria demonstrating that Nigerians believe religion to be more central to their identity than nationality. Religious organizations have a major impact on inter-communal and international conflicts. It is also said that this model excludes the many contributions of religious people in the development of peace. Despite religion's secondary role, its use in the region's conflicts has frequently been destabilizing; the infusion of religion in grievances has exacerbated existing tensions and encumbered progress toward peace. 4-8 hours per week. '�^������kT��)V�"���00{��4�N#U�xL���k�F�[�H_�=�ر��Hp�ۧNc+FE���m6v-����oWr)~�&JK�@0�ق�Ⱦ�c~�]������0���N8�t dz�s��%�. / • Religion and peace-making in the contemporary world including the work of individuals influenced by religious teaching. Self-paced. The question of religion, conflict and peace came to worldwide attention with the decline of the Cold War and the collapse of the former Soviet Union. �)T_�S����N�ލs/=�Sc�F+ͤS�JwM7 g@:��^94�-��ʌ/|M��Hk�F�������4a��;i���+����Jf��5Q�� � Z���T�����j��٠y���3B_�O��Ln~�S��U[��=�w��C�[��G��1�-����Z�׎���˶���>�E�H+}�j����h['+V�z�����05#��t�Q���Nm�?�a�ح]S۔}�������>)���N��%{6����V���9�n��ܰz=h���i �=��v$��δ�)��An#ݼ�o7;Q;�`,q�jw�翳�N�[��K7� �ݮ�2/�8;��Q�a?_�O��[�ÃZФu��s����q��vL��9;��H̬�j ]�*����3�e��إn,��z��L�">ae�z������a����{�I��S��)��*�w‘Ʃ��%���rYh�=B�n-Bgd=OԚZ>D>3�N�)�"[�� pՖg�p���)��/f������ɰ:�շ��GXzJH�.�{�c ��h���;d�6��V�#h\���&��6B���~�ӽdG��^��d�R�u���vFu�>[���>�)��Z/��lţ��l;޽����ar��^F��c�2��V�bƘ� o��)��8J�� In conflict where religion is found to be a strong causal factor the political manipulation of religion matters more than doctrine. Religion plays a complex role in modern conflicts, serving as both an inspiration for violence and a powerful force for peace. Drew University’s Center on Religion, Culture & Conflict (CRCC) focuses critical attention on the complex ways in which people from different cultural, ethnic and religion traditions interact, and how both difference and similarity can serve as a resource for building peace.Our mission Some expect an escalation of religious conflicts as well. USIP’s Jacob Stokes says to properly counterbalance Beijing in the region, the United States should focus “less about responding to China … and more engaging with the states of South Asia.”, By: Publications Interfaith dialogue is expanding even in places where interreligious tensions are highest. USIP has a variety of newsletters and announcements with the latest analysis, publications and events. A recent article in The Economist asserts that, if there ever was a global drift toward secularism, it has been halted and probably reversed. Religious leaders and institutions can mediate in conflict situations, serve as a communication link between opposing sides, and provide training in peacemaking methodologies. The inclusion permitted religious influential religious leaders to change opinions of their antagonized followers, allowed the opposing sides to find common values, reminded everyone that peace and harmony is an ultimate goal, and inspired all sides to operate with humility and compassion (37). Know that religion has a strong influence on people’s belief or faith and conviction. T�$�2�CsH���go�� 4��EZ�/a���pl���z����:_�4��V!|�RZ1. This comes after a spate of skirmishes this year on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a Sino-Indian disputed border region. Religiously-motivated peace builders have played important roles in addressing many conflicts around the world. With news of a breakthrough in Afghan peace talks, USIP’s Scott Smith warns that future troop withdrawal should “switch from a time-based deadline approach to a conditions-based approach” because if the Taliban believe withdrawal is inevitable, “they have no incentive to compromise.”, 2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037Tel: +1.202.457.1700, About Peace Policy offers insights, commentary, and research-based solutions to the global problem of violent conflict. The second model, a response to the first, is “peace without religion”. In the article, Philip Jenkins, a noted scholar from Pennsylvania State University, predicts that when historians look back at this century they will see religion as "the prime animating and destructive force in human affairs, guiding attitudes to political liberty and obligation, concepts of nationhood and, of course, conflicts and wars." Since its creation in 2000, the United States Institute of Peace’s Religion and Peacemaking program has worked with local partners to promote religious peacemaking in many parts of the world, including Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Critics claim that it is overly simplistic and fails to address other causes of conflict as well as the peace potential of religion. to promote a heightened awareness of the positive peace building and reconciliatory role religion has played in many conflict situations - CNN, Factbox: Ethiopia's reclusive neighbour Eritrea - Reuters, Ethiopia's Tigray Crisis: Why Nobel laureate Abiy Ahmed sent his troops to battle - BBC News. Time commitment. David Smock, In recent decades, religion has assumed unusual prominence in global affairs. With so much emphasis on religion as a source of conflict, the role of religion as a force in peacemaking is usually overlooked. Not infrequently, the most contentious interfaith relationships can provide the context for the most meaningful and productive exchanges. Discussion of the connection of religion and violent national or civil conflict emerged in earnest in the early 1990s as a result of the Northern Ireland: Religion in War and Peace September 3, 2013 This case study examines the complex and multifaceted role of religion in the conflict in Northern Ireland between Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists. Th… Free * Duration. Humanities. Projects In the face of armed violence and genocide, two of the greatest challenges facing our world today are the maintenance of peace and the protection of human rights. English; The Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace addresses both the problem of religion and conflict and the possibility and practices of peace, giving particular attention to peace. Open October 1, 2020 – April 2, 2021. With so much emphasis on religion as a source of conflict, the role of religion as a force in peacemaking is usually overlooked. David Smock has directed the Institute’s Religion and Peacemaking program since its inception. 5 0 obj x��]�r�6}�WL�if+�@��S�����M��ޒ}�%Y�M�cKI�� v8 8��M\�ϐ�v�>}�~SW�����p���g���������wӇ�.���J���/��ӷ�o����Q��Gu��F�z�QlDm�v��]՚��ۣ_��vu��N�f��>~��ہh#��>��EթZ�����lz!��?����]������kBu�o�v3~VZ6�o�^�F��Eלԍ�/���#F�u��oݳM��b{���J��.6;�*݋~�5��u�w��G�����`M|��0�ͮ����y$��j�v�o��n����&�B�y�����ٽVk��M�����>/��~�iݺ^�x&Ĵ�B�V��i۹��+����U���Pw�,u��4(Q�I~�I�U����U�Tk�_��X�r�J׵j���� Introduction – Tourism of Conflict or Tourism of Peace? Motivated by religious goals of seeking peace, religious leaders and faith-based NGOs have frequently played prominent roles as mediators or other forms of intervention in conflict scenarios. 8 weeks long. The Role of Religion in Today’s Conflict.1 By Ms. Karen Armstrong As we are all agreed, the conflict between the Muslim world and the West is essentially political but on a popular level religion is seen as one of its root causes. He is also the vice president of the Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution. Given religion’s importance as both a source of international conflict and a resource for peacemaking, it is regrettable that the U.S. government is so ill equipped to handle religious issues and relate to religious actors. Religion and belief in 21st century conflict • Religion and belief as a cause of war and violence in the contemporary world. However, the relationship etween religion and conflict is, in fact, a complex one. Subject. Explore the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence. Conflict resolution theory must examine more systematically the decision-making of religious actors and leaders in order for strategies of peacemaking to be effective in the relevant contexts. The agreement, known as the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), was a result of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between U.S. and Indian defense and foreign affairs chiefs, following a trend in recent years of deepening military cooperation geared toward pushing back on China’s increasingly assertive policies in the region. Pope John Paul II, for example, played a prominent role in Lebanon, Poland, and Haiti. Islam is regarded in the West as an … Nigerians are thus more likely to identify themselves first and foremost as Christians or Muslims rather than as Nigerians. We can see at the root of all conflict, no matter the size of conflict or the number of people involved, that the desire to ‘control’ is at it’s root. The Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace addresses both the problem of religion and conflict and the possibility and practices of peace, giving particular attention to peace. Peace & Conflict. ��Ř!��L�Xç���(z�.L42�/�"�}GìP)��$^>���B�L��i�$(���Sc�k>��38̽�{�Q6��(� g,�۹�����i–I�F�W�uHe;��H�o���A��!l���������r�F}0V 3��E�:�Mm\+�x��P]9���2��3��v���c�X ��F��p�c�cz2�9%k����؜q"��-s-�P���Nc�b[��\&Gl�~�6^d Know that peace or conflict … Religion, Conflict and Peace Explore the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence. Religious affiliation and conviction often motivates religious communities to advocate particular peace-related government policies. Visit The contribution that religion can make to peacemaking--as the flip side of religious conflict--is only beginning to be explored and explicated. 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