Summary

  • Faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly active and increasingly effective in international peacebuilding.
  • Faith-based organizations have a special role to play in zones of religious conflict, but their peacebuilding programs do not need to be confined to addressing religious conflict.
  • Although in some cases peacebuilding projects of faith-based organizations resemble very closely peacebuilding by secular NGOs, in most instances the various religious orientations of these faith-based organizations shape the peacebuilding they undertake.
  • The peacebuilding agendas of these organizations are diverse and range from high-level mediation to training and peacebuilding-through-development at grassroots levels.
  • Very often peace can be promoted most efficiently by introducing peacebuilding components into more traditional relief and development activities.

 

About the Report

The United States Institute of Peace hosted a day-long workshop on June 20, 2001 to enable faith-based NGOs to share their experiences in international peacebuilding. The holding of this workshop reflected both the increasing involvement of international faith-based NGOs in attempting to promote peace in the countries where they operate, as well as the desire of many other faith-based NGOs to engage in peacebuilding projects. The workshop permitted the more experienced NGOs to share their experiences with those NGOs who have less experience in this arena. Representatives from 40 faith-based NGOs attended.

The principal purpose of the Institute's year-old Religion and Peacemaking Initiative is to help U.S. faith-based organizations to become more active and effective as international peacebuilders. This workshop thus served the initiative's central purpose.

This report has been prepared by David Smock, director of the Religion and Peacemaking Program.

The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Institute of Peace, which does not advocate specific policies.


Related Publications

Harnessing the Power of Sacred Sites to Foster Peaceful Pluralism

Harnessing the Power of Sacred Sites to Foster Peaceful Pluralism

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Diversity is a 21st-century reality, as people and faiths are intermixing as never before. Fear of the religious “other” leads to divisions, hostility, instability and violence impacting people and places. Consequently, it is essential to recognize how sacred spaces can also serve as powerful catalysts for peace and understanding rather than focal points for conflict. While the news often emphasizes violence and destruction, there are inspiring examples of sacred sites fostering inclusion and dialogue.

Type: Analysis

Religion

How Ukraine is Navigating Russia’s Weaponization of Religion

How Ukraine is Navigating Russia’s Weaponization of Religion

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Since 2014, Ukraine has been trying to repel escalating Russian aggression. But while Russia is a much larger country, with far more weaponry and manpower, their efforts to undermine Ukrainian state sovereignty extend far beyond armed combat. The Kremlin has used its close ties to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) to weaponize religion in favor of Russian interests.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionReligion

Beyond the Dayton Accords: Resolving Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Frozen Conflict

Beyond the Dayton Accords: Resolving Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Frozen Conflict

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Looking out from the town hall in downtown Sarajevo, you’d be hard pressed to find evidence of the nearly four-year-long siege that devastated the city during the Bosnian War. The surrounding area is clean and filled with new and repaired buildings — even the town hall itself is a restoration of the pre-war library that once occupied the space. 

Type: Analysis

Democracy & GovernancePeace ProcessesReligion

View All Publications