Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik

For most of the twentieth century, the most critical concerns of national security have been balance of power politics and the global arms race. The attacks of September 11, 2001 and the motives behind them, however, demand a radical break with this tradition. If the United States is to prevail in its long-term contest with extremist Islam, it will need to re-examine old assumptions, expand the scope of its thinking to include religion and other "irrational" factors, and be willing to depart from past practice. A purely military response in reaction to such attacks will simply not suffice. What will be required is a long-term strategy of cultural engagement, backed by a deeper understanding of how others view the world and what is important to them. In non-Western cultures, religion is a primary motivation for political actions. Historically dismissed by Western policymakers as a divisive influence, religion in fact has significant potential for overcoming the obstacles that lead to paralysis and stalemate. The incorporation of religion as part of the solution to such problems is as simple as it is profound. It is long overdue. This book looks at five intractable conflicts and explores the possibility of drawing on religion as a force for peace. It builds upon the insights of Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft (OUP,1994)--which examined the role that religious or spiritual factors can play in preventing or resolving conflict--while achieving social change based on justice and reconciliation. The world-class authors writing in this volume suggest how the peacemaking tenets of five major world religions can be strategically applied in ongoing conflicts in which those religions are involved. Finally, the commonalities and differences between these religions are examined with an eye toward further applications in peacemaking and conflict resolution.

About the Author :
Douglas Johnston is President and Founder of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He has served at senior levels in government, the military, and the private sector, including Harvard University, where he founded and directed the University's Executive Program in National and International Security and taught international affairs. He is the editor and principal author of Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft (OUP, 1994) and Foreign Policy into the 21st Century: The U.S. Leadership Challenge (1996).

Review :
"I have always been optimistic that the 21st century will be distinguished by a renewal of faith and a better understanding between world religions. This book reinforces my view, and if politicians act on it they will benefit from the gifts of religion, which God has ordained for the sole interest of mankind."--His Eminence Ahmad Kuftaro, Grand Mufti of Syria "In earlier work Douglas Johnston has shown that one ignores the religious factor in international relations at one's peril. In this new book he shows how, in specific situations, religious institutions can serve to mediate conflicts and prevent violence. The book is an innovative and useful contribution. It merits a wide readership." --Peter L. Berger, University Professor of Sociology and Theology, Boston University, and Director of the Institute for the Study of Economic Culture "Some have concluded that religion plays the devil in its contribution to conflict in different parts of the world. This study, however, shows how religious men and women of conflicting traditions can help expel that devil." --Rajmohan Gandhi "Since I first read Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft, I have constantly commended its timely message about the significance of the religious dimension for world stability. I commend equally warmly this new volume edited by Douglas Johnston, Faith-based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik, with its invaluable case-studies of some of the most difficult areas of conflict in the world. This is priority reading for political and religious leaders alike." --The Rev. Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury "In a world that is burdened by an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor, deadly conflicts of identity, permeable international borders, weapons of mass destruction, and suicidal terrorism, Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik is a compelling and intellectually sound piece of work that bravely points the way toward a more promising future."----Zbigniew K. Brzezinski