Religion, The Missing Dimension of Statecraft

by Johnston, Douglas; Sampson, Cynthia

• ISBN13: 9780195087345
• ISBN10: 0195087348
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780195102802
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1994-08-25
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

As the Cold War era becomes history, we are entering an age when international conflict is increasingly based on racial, ethnic, national, and religious clashes--the most intractable sources of conflict, and those with which conventional diplomacy is least suited to deal. The particularly American tendency to separate political from spiritual life often tends to ignore a vital aspect of international relations--one that can be a powerful tool in negotiations. Religion plays a crucial role in many international conflicts, yet for the most part, diplomacy either ignores or misunderstands its role. This unified collection of case studies and theoretical pieces attempts to restore this missing dimension to its rightful place in the conduct of international diplomacy. Sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., this study offers the first systematic account of modern cases in which religious or spiritual factors have played a helpful role in preventing or resolving conflict and achieving non-violent socio-political change. Written by a distinguished roster of scholars, the cases presented span the globe, with examples from Europe, Central America, Asia, and Africa. Additional essays summarize the findings of these case studies to bring out their implications for foreign policy and the religious community. In the Foreword, former President Jimmy Carter states that the book "poses a challenge to diplomats and politicians, religious figures and laypersons, analysts and academics alike." Conceived to help call attention to and reinforce the positive contribution that religious and spiritual influences can bring to peacemaking, this important study offers practical guidelines for the future application of this kind of peacemaking in existing and incipient conflict situations.

Author Biography

About the Editors:
Douglas Johnston is Chief Operating Officer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Cynthia Sampson is Director of the Research, Religion and Conflict Project, also at CSIS.

Table of Contents

Contributors
Introduction: Beyond Power Politics	p. 3
The Missing Dimension	p. 8
Religion and International Affairs	p. 20
Franco-German Reconciliation: The Overlooked Role of the Moral Re-Armament Movement	p. 37
Appendix
Religious Conciliation Between the Sandinistas and the East Coast Indians of Nicaragua	p. 64
"To Make Real the Bond Between Us All": Quaker Conciliation During the Nigerian Civil War	p. 88
At the Front Lines of the Revolution: East Germany's Churches Give Sanctuary and Succor to the Purveyors of Change	p. 119
Faith at the Ramparts: The Philippine Catholic Church and the 1986 Revolution	p. 153
The Churches and Apartheid in South Africa	p. 177
Transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe: The Role of Religious Actors	p. 208
Review of the Findings	p. 258
World Religions and Conflict Resolution	p. 266
Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam
Sikhism
Judaism
Implications for the Foreign Policy Community	p. 285
Implications for Religious Communities: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity	p. 306
Looking Ahead: Toward a New Paradigm	p. 316
Index	p. 339
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