The Role Of Religious In International Relations

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Religion has, and continued to be, a force for change in international relations.

Religion was a core ideology that instigated conflicts between the groups before the establishment and the development of the international state system (XU, 2012). However, it took the back seat following the development of the centralized states and the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. It was until 1978-1979’s Iranian revolution that the aspect of religion re-emerged as a significant political factor (Fitzgerald, 2011). The Cold War came to an end after ten years, and the structure of power was changed from bipolar to unipolar. In the modern world, there is a widespread agreement regarding the changes in the international relations that appertains to the religion. In particular, religion has extensively substituted secular ideologies such as socialism. Apart from western Europe, religion has resurged in most of the world. Also, there is a significant change in international conflicts. Religion has, therefore, had a huge role in international relations, especially in shaping the foreign policies of different nations across the world. This discussion evaluates different ways through which religion has changed international relations.

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The scholars focusing on the resurgence of the element of religion within international relations have all bowed to the fact that the 9/11 attack marked the watershed moment. However, some argue that this attack segregated the new era within world politics. The 9/11 attack has, therefore, become the focal point for the exit from different attempts aimed at understanding the change brought by the religion in world affairs (Fitzgerald, 2011). These changes emerge from different historical processes, including secularization and secularization, modernization, and globalization. Also, the conflict in Northern Ireland, the 1979 Iranian revolution, and the current tensions in Pakistan and India are the core examples of the impact of religion in shaping world affairs.

According to Sandal and James (2011), religion has shaped the international system. In particular, it has contributed both legal and moral norms characterizing the international system. In history, religion was a key element in shaping the sovereign state system, the global humanitarian ethic, and just war norms. Besides, it has propelled the major historical shifts which have defined modern international relations. In particular, there has been the resurgence of Erastianism via the religious wars, the start of the UN system of the mid-20th century, and the rise of the nation (Haynes, 2011). Globally, the shared norms that are taken for granted and appears secular have defined the hand of religion. Also, religion has remained at the helm of the most prominent international relations theories, such as liberalism and realism. Locke and Kant, Machiavelli, and Hobbes wrote at the period of the formation of the international systems via the set of secularizing events that dictates the behaviour of states. According to Snyder (2011), secularism is persisted in these international relations theories and demonstrates their underperformance in addressing the resurgence of religion.

The religious conflicts have been a driving force for change in international policies. According to Sandal and James (2011), ethnoreligious and local religious conflicts at times reach the international dimensions. Haynes (2011) enumerates multiple ways through which such conflicts can find their ways across the borders. In ethnoreligious conflicts, for instance, the individuals involved often are established groups staying in other countries or have diasporas. In such instances, such populations will either be inspired to rebel or take sides with the rebelling minority. The best example is the rebellion by Muslims exhibited in India’s Kashmir province. This rebellion has contributed significantly to the sporadic military conflict in Pakistan that as ethnically and religiously similar population to the Kashmir’s. This particular conflict has greater international ramifications because both countries have nuclear weapons. The religion has also gained international attention due to the relationship between religious rights and human rights issues and hence shaping the foreign policies.

In international relations, religion is often conceptualized as the soft power for justification or persuasion and, to some extent, as the strategic asset. The faith-based non-governmental organizations, for instance, can be perceived as the most successful players in enhancing the respect for human rights and democracy in different states, and hence it is a strategic asset. In particular cases, religious authorities can be integrated into diplomatic efforts. This involvement is based on the notion that the concept of religion is based more on legitimacy-borrowing potential (Sheikh, 2012). In this regard, religion is an instrumental strategic asset that drives change in international relations.

The religious worldview significantly impacts international relations. Religion can influence the view of people in two ways. The first one entails the extent that religion impacts the policy-makers worldview, which translates into influencing the decisions. The outcome of this impact is intractable and extreme policies since religions address the constitution of being as such (Sheikh, 2012). The religiously inspired world views possessed by the policymakers, as well as the policies stemming from them, can have a potential inspiration on the intractable policies that consequently results in international incidents such as wars. Besides, local religious conflicts remain international issues (Haynes, 2011). In some instances, the conflicting parties can utilize such international forums to further their cause, such as the Islamic and Arab states that utilized the UN and the UN-sponsored conferences as the platforms to demonize Israel.

In summary, the element of religion has had greater attention due to its relevance in giving the area of international relations a wider view concerning fundamental issues in the IR. Religion has been at the centre of standards of justice, behaviour, conflict-escalating impacts of securitizing narratives, and legitimacy. The global resurgence of religion has had a huge impact on the international political outcomes heightened by globalization and the communications revolution. Religion, therefore, influences the world views that ultimately defines the foreign relations and policies.

References

  1. Fitzgerald, T., 2011. Religion and politics in international relations: The modern myth. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  2. Haynes, J., 2011. Religion, politics, and international relations: Selected essays. Taylor & Francis.
  3. Sandal, N.A., and James, P., 2011. Religion and International Relations Theory: Towards a mutual understanding. European Journal of International Relations, 17(1), pp.3-25.
  4. Sheikh, M.K., 2012. How does religion matter? Pathways to religion in International Relations. Review of International Studies, pp.365-392.
  5. Snyder, J. ed., 2011. Religion and international relations theory. Columbia University Press.
  6. XU, Y., 2012. Religion and International Relations in the Age of Globalization. Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (in Asia), 6(4), pp.19-50.

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