On the Significance of Religion in Conflict and Conflict Resolution: (Religion Matters)

In this ground-breaking volume, the authors analyze the role of religion in conflict and conflict resolution. They do so from the perspectives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, while bringing different disciplines into play, including peace and conflict studies, religious studies, theology, and ethics. With much of current academic, political, and public attention focusing on the conflictive dimensions of religion, this book also explores the constructive resources of religion for conflict resolution and reconciliation. Analyzing the specific contributions of religious actors in this field, their potentials and possible problems connected with them, this book sheds light on the concrete contours of the oftentimes vague “religious factor” in processes of social change. Case studies in current and former settings of violent conflict such as Israel, post-genocide Rwanda, and Pakistan provide “real-life” contexts for discussion. Combining cutting-edge research with case studies and concrete implications for academics, policy makers, and practitioners, this concise and easily accessible volume helps to build bridges between these oftentimes separated spheres of engagement. The Open Access version of this book, available at: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003002888, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Foreword List of Abbreviations Notes on the authors Part 1: Summary 1. Summary and Implications for Academics, Policy Makers, and Practitioners Part 2: Why Religion Matters 2. Why Religion Matters: An Introduction Part 3: Religion Matters in Conflict 3. Orientation: Did Religion Do It? 4. Jewish Perspective: Religion in Israel’s Land Rights Conflicts 5. Christian Perspective: Religion in Pre-Genocide and Genocide Rwanda 6. Islamic Perspective: Religion in Pakistan’s Internal Conflicts Part 4: Religion Matters in Conflict Resolution 7. Orientation: What Do They Have that Others Don’t? 8. Jewish Perspective: Religion in Israel’s Quest for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation in Its Land Rights Conflicts 9. Christian Perspective: Religion in Post-Genocide Rwanda’s Quest for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation 10. Islamic Perspective: Religion in Muslim Women's PeaceBuilding Initiatives in Pakistan Part 5: Now What? 11. Now What? Implications for Academics, Policy Makers, and Practitioners Index

About the Author :
Christine Schliesser is a Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology and Ethics at Zurich University, Switzerland, and a Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana is a Research Affiliate at Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Policy, USA. Pauline Kollontai is Professor of Higher Education in Theology and Religious Studies at York St John University, UK.

Review :
"This initial book in an exciting new series looks at one of the key global issues with which religion is intimately involved: the sustainable development goals. This punchy, thoughtful and comprehensive overview of the relevant issues is a must-read for scholars, practitioners and university students. It will help set the focus of debates on this issue. I warmly recommend it." Jeffrey Haynes, London Metropolitan University, UK "The Religion Matters series is a timely and accessible compendium contextualizing the role of religion within the critical issues of our time. The first volume, On the Significance of Religion in Conflict and Conflict Resolution, demonstrates through careful analysis and illustrative case studies around the three Abrahamic traditions the real yet complex impact of religion in the global sphere, showing clearly the need for collaboration and understanding across sectors and religious traditions in conflict resolution. Building upon the rich academic expertise and lived experiences of the authors, and situating itself within the broader religion and peacebuilding scholarship of recent decades, this volume raises to the forefront the "how" and "why" religion does indeed matter." Melissa Nozell, United States Institute of Peace, USA "Does religion matter" is a crucial question for billions of people around the world. Although in recent years, many governments and international organizations have begun considering the role of religion in policy, nevertheless these efforts remain in their initial phase. This edited volume creatively tackles this central issue in international politics. Combining several real and challenging cases, the Editors successfully dispel the myth that religion alone causes violent conflicts and is responsible for their solutions. The book also illustrates how the three Abrahamic traditions can be deployed effectively to positively contribute to conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Israeli Palestinian, Pakistan, and Rwanda settings. The edited volume adds an important voice to the field of interreligious peacebuilding. It also respond to the need for further engagement between policy makers and peacebuilding communities and practitioners." Mohammed Abu-Nimer, American University School, USA "This volume is an important contribution to efforts to bring religion back into the mainstream of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Analyzing religion’s role in conflict and peace by applying a simple framework to several rich case studies, the authors convincingly demonstrate that religion matters for anyone working in the field of conflict resolution today." Owen Frazer, Center for Security Studies, Zurich, Switzerland