Summary: The understanding of global politics can no longer be devoid of religious considerations. The analysis of data from around the globe presents a compelling image of a significant increase in the religiosity of the world population. (4, 5, 6) Although, based on the First Amendment to the US Constitution, the US Government “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” and based on the Article VI of the US Constitution, “… no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any office… under the United States,” (9) this memorandum proposes the position that the United States Government should place knowledge of one of the major world religions as one of the requirements for entry into Foreign Service. Religious actors are increasingly involved in world politics, economics and development processes; there is no escape from dealing with them in today’s world of diplomacy either. Besides, in a world full of uncertainty, religion offers a sense of certainty to public which enhances their trust in processes that involve religious elements. (8: 27) The knowledge of world religions and its efficient use in our dealings with international affairs can be an effective tool of cultural diplomacy, and help present a strengthened image of the United States as a world leader and as a nation that promotes the values of peace, democracy and human rights globally. Religious knowledge, as an added value, can support our efforts towards peacemaking and conflict resolution in the world’s most violent regions.
Religion in Global Politics: Background on Reality
Every reality presents us with a set of challenges and opportunities. The task of distinguishing opportunities from challenges and identifying hidden opportunities in every challenge depends on our ability and skill of understanding life. A major component of today’s life is religion, (4, 5, 6) without an informed appreciation of which, life and its realities cannot be understood and the possibilities of shapes that life may take in future cannot be predicted with accuracy. We cannot speak to a world that communicates through religion, in a language devoid of an understanding of religion. The ever increasing role of religion in the world offers certain challenges. It however also, presents certain opportunities, a grasp of which and a use of which as effective tools, can save us and help us save the world. This is an issue of critical importance for the survival of the world and for our ability to lead the world that survives.
Issues: Challenges and Opportunities
The US Government looks at religion as an important yet distinct element from politics and follows the spirit of the First Amendment to the US Constitution and the belief in religion being personal and private, thus not requiring the government to support the establishment of a particular religion by law. However, many other nations of the world do not share this perspective. For many of them, religion is the base upon which their governance system stands. For most of them, religion is the lens through which they look at themselves and the world. (4, 5, 6, 15: 240) Their understanding of the world’s most important political, economic and diplomatic issues is religious. (10: 61, 15: 243) In this difference lies a gap that is widened by our lack of understanding of world religions, or limited and stereotypical understanding of it, which if not bridged through extended knowledge of global religions and their role in politics, economics and diplomacy, can limit our reach to the world and world’s access to us.
The ever increasing religiosity of the world population is complicating our leadership responsibilities; yet, more significant is the opportunity that it offers: a broadening of alternatives in global political structures. For instance, while secularism is equated with religious freedom by many throughout the world, its dividing nature must compel us to be open to constructive alternatives to it. As a secular nation, we do not necessarily need to advocate secularism for the rest of the world, especially where the receiving nation may have better indigenous alternatives. (15: 240) It might be in the best interest of the world peace that we reconsider our belief that the existence of an official religion equates with an encroachment upon basic human rights. (10: 54, 15: 224) The understanding that secularism is not the only prescription with the ability to resolve religious inspired conflict and ensure freedom of religion is gaining widespread appreciation lately, and it is critical for us to understand this trend and prepare ourselves for it. Our preparation would involve understanding and recognizing the possibilities of having a State religion as well as ensuring freedom of religion. (10: 54)
Besides, data suggest that in 62% (48 out of 78) processes of substantial democratization, religious actors have played a democratizing role, which indicates towards the capacity of religion to not only co-exist, but also strengthen the process of democratization. (7)
It is important to realize the unifying ability of religion as an identity. The fact that over 4.5 billion of world population believes in God and over 3.5 billion believes in one God (4, 6, 10: 52, 11) is a factor that unifies the world population more than dividing it. This connection to a transnational set of religious beliefs adds to the simplicity of the feelings and thoughts that drive human action. If seen from the prism of religion, there are only a handful of languages one could communicate through, which is a lot easier than the task of communicating in over 6000 world languages of today. Communication through this language can connect us to the world population in an unprecedented way that goes beyond national and regional boundaries, and give us advantage in mediation and conflict resolution.
Our enhanced understanding of world religions and the world populations’ understanding of the US will help correct stereotypes about our society and do away with the notion of essentialist opposition against US values, a stance that is the basis to and feeds the ideology of Al-Qaida and the violent agitation of its leaders. The gap that has been created due to the eventual death of Osama Bin Laden, no matter how symbolic to the movement itself, is important to be utilized with immediate effect. This gap provides us with an opportunity to reach out to the Muslim population and strengthen dialogue and peaceful resolution to religion inspired conflicts. This understanding will work as a shield against extremism, and the proposal of Harvey Cox that called for undoing religion “from the inside” (2) will evolve into a practical program. The implementation of this proposal is key to resolving the conflict in Afghanistan and making the return of US soldiers possible by 2014. The success of Senator Danforth in Sudan had a lot to do with not only his identity as a Christian, but also his vast knowledge of the local religion (12: 12).
Policy Recommendations
1. Graduate Degree in a World Religion: A Requirement for Entry into Foreign Service. The task of officials of the State Department is very important. On the successful accomplishments of Foreign Service officials depends the nature, extent and strength of US relations with and US image and influence in the world. For a task this challenging in nature, short term training is never sufficient. This fact necessitates a more long term program of education to broaden the understanding of religion and religious actors in world politics, economics and diplomacy. (13)
2. Reorganization of US Department of State Divisions and Desks. With the aim of strengthening the flow and exchange of information internally and for the right purposes, the State Department should conduct an internal reorganization of divisions and desks. The desired outcome of this reorganization will be greater cooperation and coordination in the issues concerning countries who share the same religion. Obviously the population in no single country is homogenous, and therefore this decision must consider the religious minorities. Such reorganization, will also help better identify, define and analyze common patterns in different countries, and thus help in understanding and predicting the possibilities of the same outcome of similar patterns in another country.
3. Investment in Religious School System. Religious schools or Madrassa system of education has been running as a parallel as well as an alternative to primary schools in regions with limited access to education. Recently however, these schools have also been a resource for religious extremist groups’ recruitment of child soldiers. The factor that renders these children available and vulnerable is not only lack of modern schooling system outside the Madrassa system, but also inside the Madrassa system (14). As part of the public outreach program, the US State Department should encourage and support investment in religious schools in the form of science and computer science education and opportunities of access to the world outside through internet. This can help ensure that students of religious schools are not deprived of a world view and ability to compare their lives with the rest of the world.
4. Investment in the Study of Religion at the Higher Education Level in Religious Societies. The bridge that connects children in a school to future leadership opportunities is higher education. While billions of world population believe in a religion and indulge in religious practice, not even a million of those are equipped with objective understanding of their own or other religions of the world. Lack of knowledge on religion renders people with belief, in particular the youth, vulnerable to manipulation by religious extremist groups throughout the world. If with the changing world and the need for education in the field of information technology, human and financial resources can be devoted to it, why not to education on religion in a world that is more than ever religious in nature? Such an investment can be of particular significance given the social media revolution as a tool to connect religion and democracy. (10: 81) What is significantly important here is the balance of support and investment in the study of all religions of the world to ensure equal growth of the body of information on all religions and thus objectivity in understanding them. Such an initiative will not only deter stereotypical approach, but also address the issue of religious hatred and discrimination, which is a major source of conflict and civil war in many countries of the world (3: 98).
Democracy is like old age, someone said, it needs maintenance. And for the purposes of maintenance of democracy in the world, the State Department must attempt at creating more bonds, not gaps and dividing lines. A more accurate understanding of religion can serve this purpose effectively.
Word Count: 1828
Bibliography
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(11). Pew Research Center for The People & The Press, Global Attitudes Poll, June, 2003
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