![Sample our Humanities journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5939/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Humanities.jpg"})
Abstract
The article asks the question of how effective interfaith dialogue is in resolving international conflicts. The answer the question, the article examines the question of how significant religion is in deciding the behavior of international state and non-state actors. Is it a key determinant of their behavior, or it is mostly an instrument to advance goals determined by other motives? It also the question whether religion is the main cause of international disputes. And if it is not a key determinant of behavior and main cause of disputes how can interfaith dialogues can help in resolving international disputes.
Notes
1 Huntington later published a book on the same topic. However, similar ideas were advanced earlier by Bernard Lewis (Citation1990).
2 In Huntington’s view, the most significant fault line was between Islam and the Liberal West.
3 The origins of Hizbollah go back to the 1980s. However, it only became powerful in late 1990s.
4 On the causes behind the rising sectarian tensions see Hunter Citation2013.
5 Examples included the King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz founded Center for International Interfaith Dialogue in 2012 (KAIICID) and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (now called the “Tony Blair Institute for Global Change”).
6 Examples included dialogue between Catholics and Shias, especially between Qum religious centers in Iran and the Vatican (see Mahony, Peterbus, and Shomali Citation2003). The other initiative was “A Common Word” by Jordan’s Ahl ul Beit Foundation.
7 The phrase “dialogue of civilizations” was first proposed by the Austrian philosopher Hans Kochler in 1972 in a letter to UNESCO. For an interpretation of the philosophical foundations of Khatami’s thesis see Petito Citation2004.
8 The recent controversy about American decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem illustrates these competing claims (see De Young and Morello Citation2018).
9 For details among others see Nye and Keohane Citation1971; Brown Citation1995. For an early work on the fate of nation state see Hoffman Citation1966.
10 Pakistan aided by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Republic and with Western acquiescence was instrumental in creating the Taliban (see Maley Citation2001; Saikal Citation2004). Hizbollah is dependent on Iran for arms and money and IS was helped by Saudi Arabia.
11 For more detailed discussion see Hunter Citation2017.
12 Joseph Nye first introduced the concept of the “soft power” (see Nye Citation2004).
13 Weak states are not without power, especially if they are of special value to a great power.
14 On disagreement on whether US actions was sanctioned by the UN or not, see Yoo Citation2003.
15 The best representative of the realist school is Hans J. Morgenthau (Citation1948). Presently Stephen Waltz subscribes to this school.
16 Joseph Nye Citation1988.
17 For case studies see Hunter Citation2017
18 Muslims believe that Abraham sacrificed Ismael.
19 Muehlenbeck Citation2012.
20 These included the Egyptian revolution of 1952, Iraq in 1958 and Libya in 1968.
21 Initially the European cooperation took the form a Common Market. It was called European Economic Community, and later European Community.
22 The most significant manifestation of the centrifugal tendencies within the European Union is Britain’s decision to withdraw from the Union or the so-called Brexit.
23 Iran has established a center to encourage rapprochement between Sunnis and Shias. Ayatollah Taskhiri is the head of this center.
24 The same is true of Russia and China.
25 Some may argue that Western values are not secular values and are rooted in Christianity. This may be so, but the fact remains that in the West religion is separate from politics. This situation does not prevail in Muslim states.
26 The so-called ping-pong diplomacy preceded the establishment of relations between the United States and China.
27 The situation in Saudi Arabia might be changing under the new Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Shireen Hunter
Shireen T. Hunter is a Research Professor at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. She is the author and editor / contributor of twenty-six books and monographs. Her publications include: The Future of Islam and the West: Clash of Civilization of Peaceful Coexistence? (Praeger 1998), and God On Our Side: Religion in International Affairs (Rowman & Littlefield 2017). She has also written ninety journal articles and book chapters.