OpinionsThe Life of DaiWhy religion matters in intl relations

Why religion matters in intl relations

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Geneva, Switzerland — Since International Relations (IR) formally became a discipline, scholars studied it from the vantage point of the 17th century Westphalian developments in which religion had to take the backseat while the spotlight was focused on the state.

There is even what is called a ‘secularization theory’ which asserts that religion will become immaterial and inconsequential in IR, as the human race marches towards modernity.

The belief that religion is trivial in the discourse on IR is simply nonsense. When IR scholars discount the role of religion among the factors influencing how states behave, they are missing an important layer in their analysis.

Religion matters, and it matters a lot in understanding and predicting the steps states are bound to take in response to certain issues. Religion, after all, is not simply about worshipping and believing in a higher being; it is a way of life, and a way of seeing, and making sense of a complicated world.

The tenets in any religion often become the basis of the values parents teach their children. For secular schools, the curricula and activities which shape the young, malleable minds of tomorrow’s leaders are hinged on the teachings of a particular religion. Religion, therefore, figures prominently in decision-making.

In many cases, religion cannot be separated from power politics. Just as it had been in the past, religion continues to play an instrumental role as a king-maker in certain societies.

As what Foreign Affairs magazine asserted, “Like political and economic motives, religious motives can act as a multiplier of both destructive and constructive behaviors, often with more intense results.”

Far from fading into kingdom come, religion is actually making a bold comeback, especially in the study of IR, as many conflicts around the world often contain a very religious flavor.

The tension between Sunnis and Shiites, the role of the Catholic Church in what is considered the third wave of democratization, and the Sept. 11 attacks are few examples of the religious nature of some of the challenges that the world is facing today.

As what the sociologist Peter Berger would say, “The world today is furiously religious as it ever was, and in some places more so than ever.”

The world, in fact, is overflowing with religious communities, theologies, and movements. Filipinos don’t even need to look beyond the borders of the archipelago to understand how inextricably intertwined religion is with politics.

You can call it faith’s “return from exile” if you must. Religion continues to be a global force.

Like politics and economics, it drives human behavior, and therefore, also state behavior.

By understanding the nature of religion and its power to shape minds and influence action, we stand to gain by being able to know how to unlock the potential of faith in achieving universal goals such as the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Come to think of it, the aspiration of many religions is not a far departure from mankind’s aspirations in the SDGs, which is essentially a good life, peace, and prosperity for all.

The common belief is that religion can be polarizing, repressive, and discriminatory. This is what happens when religion is not used for the better.

Yet, focusing on this view discounts the greater possibility that religion can play an instrumental role in bolstering and empowering people and governments, and advancing political reform and human rights.

After all, at the heart of any religion is the aspiration that all human beings will live a dignified life in peaceful and safe environment, and that all human beings will be able to flourish and thrive with nature.

The challenge then is to find ways to harness the power of religion in creating a better world. Undoubtedly, public diplomacy will play an important role, as achieving this objective requires a drastic change in attitude and mindset–definitely not a business-as-usual approach.

And like all successful public diplomacy strategies, it must start at home by tearing down the age-old silos that separate politics, economics, and religion in the analysis of domestic and international affairs.

From there, policy can be revisited, and religious actors empowered to play an important part in getting people to work together as we embark on a collective journey towards shaping the world that we want, and the world that we believe future generations deserve.

Faith is definitely back on the world stage, and it’s staying here for good.

_______________________________

Author’s email: [email protected]

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