PD in Review: Religion and Foreign Affairs

In his review of Dennis R. Hoover and Douglas M. Johnston’s newly edited text Religion and Foreign Affairs, CPD Director Philip Seib notes the vital importance of an understanding of the role of faith in foreign affairs.

Seib writes that the editors do a “superb job” of collecting literature about issues such as the ethics of force, religion and conflict, and peacemaking, making this “an indispensable volume for anyone interested in this field.”

“In much of the world, secularism is viewed warily, seen as weakening the fabric of society, and so a respectful approach to religion is an essential element of diplomacy. Religion is not “mere sociology,” as the CIA reportedly referred to it prior to the 1979 Iranian revolution. Rather, it must be taken seriously as a foundation stone of international relations.”

Read the full review here.

In 2010, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy launched a research project to review the public diplomacy implications between religion and global publics. To find out more this Faith Diplomacy Initiative, please follow this link.

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