On the Significance of Religion in Conflict and Conflict Resolution

In this ground-breaking volume, the authors analyze the role of religion in conflict and conflict resolution. They do sofrom 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.

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 3.1 Did Religion Do It? 3.2 Jewish Perspective: Religion in Israel’s Land Rights Conflicts 3.3 Christian Perspective: Religion in Pre-Genocide and Genocide Rwanda 3.4 Islamic Perspective: Religion in Pakistan’s Internal Conflicts Part 4: Religion Matters in Conflict Resolution 4.1 Orientation: What Do They Have that Others Don’t? 4.2 Jewish Perspective: Religion in Israel’s Quest for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation in Its Land Rights Conflicts 4.3 Christian Perspective: Religion in Post-Genocide Rwanda’s Quest for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation 4.4 Islamic Perspective: Religion in Muslim Women's PeaceBuilding Initiatives in Pakistan Part 5: Now What? 5. Now What? Implications for Academics, Policy Makers and Practitioners Index

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 aResearch Affiliateat 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.