How can we best understand the role of religion in foreign policy?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Section C. (8) How can we best understand the role of religion in foreign policy?

In order to best understand the role of religion in foreign policy, one needs to acknowledge that religion does play a role in foreign policy. However, the role religion plays in international relations is often overlooked. This omission of such an important factor that influences international politics in so many ways and on so many levels is detrimental and should be addressed (Fox, 2001:73). Religion influences international politics in varied ways. The phenomenal role of religion in foreign policy is not new or in dispute. Fox purports that religion, in more ways than one, is tied to other issues that distinctly influence international politics. There is a link between religion and nationalism, totalitarianism, political regimes, political opinions and attitudes, ethnicity, issues of identity, the process of globalization, terrorism, political culture, attitude towards war and peace, and the politics of specific states (Fox, 2001:72). We can best understand the role of religion in foreign policy by examining the influence that religious beliefs and views have on the decision making process. Moreover, is the religious foundation of a country the guiding light in that country’s foreign policy?

One is cognizant of the argument made by some that religion’s contribution to international relations is ethical and not political hence it does not play a great role. However, one needs to understand clearly that a states foreign policy is largely guided by its ethics, morals, values and principles. Undoubtedly, the foreign policies of the leaders of theocratic states like Iran and Afghanistan are influenced by their religious views. Quite often their foreign and domestic policies have infuriated international issues and situations that cannot be ignored. Moreover, the use of religion as a source of public legitimacy is highlighted by the influence of moral appeals by religious leaders such as the Pope and Dalai Lama (Fox, 2001:53). Religion is a part of people’s worldviews and influences their perception of events and their reaction to events. Belief systems can influence the outlook and behaviour of policymakers.

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According to Jonathon Fox, religion influences international politics in three ways (Fox, 2001: 59). First, foreign policies are influenced by the religious views and beliefs of policymakers and their constituents. In the case of the Arab-Israeli conflict, both Israeli and Arab leaders have had to weigh very carefully what their populations would accept when making agreements. The coalition government of Israel under Ahud Barack was seen as willing to make too many concessions to the Palestinians. Hence he was replaced with Ariel Sharon who was viewed as more hard-line. Second, religion is a source of legitimacy for both supporting and criticizing government behaviour locally and internationally. For example, the Islamic state of Iran demonstrating a direct link with religion and foreign policy criticizes and refers to the US government as infidels. Also, in the case of the religious Taliban regime, the US refused to accept the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and accused them of abusive actions. Third, many local religious issues and phenomena, including religious conflicts, spread across borders or otherwise become international issues. For example ethno religious conflicts like those in the former Yugoslavia, Sri Lanka, the Kashmir province of India, and Israel spread to include outside governments and agencies such as the UN. There is also increasing evidence of transnational religious groups that have no relation with the nation-state bonding together. For instances Sunni Muslims in various Arab states in the Middle East (Iraq, Saudi Arabia etc) are allying with each other.

The assertion that modernization will lead to the decline of religion is perhaps ironic because scholars often suggest that modernization actually has led to a resurgence of religion (Fox, 2001:56). Religious groups have grown more radical and many radical fundamentalists quite often use religion as the platform for defending and justifying their actions. For example, groups such as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Al Queda and Hamas, etc., have repeatedly claimed to be defending their religion when they attack US interests. Many international analysts argue that one of the key features of the terrorist attack on the US, on September 11, 2001 was the belief held by the perpetuator that US foreign policy in the Middle East was skewed in favour of the Israelis and hence anti-Arab.

Samuel Huntington’s assumption that international conflict in the post-cold war era will be between civilizations that are based mostly on religion epitomises the root cause of the conflicts occurring in different regions in the world (Fox, 2001:64). The Palestinian/Israeli conflict has some inherent link to religion. Interestingly, both the Palestinians and the Israelis have made exclusive claims to the same territory, based at least partly on religion. Also, many ethnic groups use their religion as means of identifying themselves. Case in point, after the disintegration of the USSR and Kosovo, there were serious inter-conflicts with religion been at the root of the cause. Currently, the breakaway republic of Chechnya is now a fundamentalist Muslim country trying to gain its independence from Russia. The Chechen fight has attracted many radical Muslims who have joined them in their cause.

In order to best understand the role of religion in foreign policy one needs to understand the cognitive beliefs of leaders and see how religion influences how they see the world, and the level of effect religion has on the decisions and policy put forward. For example, despite the fact that US president George Bush may seem religious he still believes there should be a separation between church and state. Unlike his Iranian counterpart Ali Hoseini Khameni who strongly believes that there should be no separation between church and state. Moreover, as Spiegel states, religion indeed affects a leaders decisions and policies put forward, societal attitudes certainly play a role in influencing political leaders…some presidents, especially those from the south, have been affected by a messianic view of the Middle East (Spiegel, 2001:242).

While it is not clear that religion was ever solely a domestic issue, it is currently an issue that crosses borders and accordingly is an international issue since many local religious and ethno-religious conflicts often reach international dimensions. While the efforts to make governments more religious may seem like a local issue, they often prove not to be the case in the long term. For example, in the case of Iran and Afghanistan in that, successful efforts to transform governments can change not only domestic policies, but also foreign policies. The role religion plays in international relations is often overlooked. Nonetheless, religion does play an important role in international relations. Religion is often tied to other issues that distinctly influence international politics.

Bibliography

Beasley, Ryan, Kaarbo et al. Foreign Policy in Comparative Perspective: Domestic and International Influences on State Behaviour. Washington: Congressional Quarterly Inc, 2001.

Evans, Graham and Jeffrey Newnham. The Penguin Dictionary of International Relations. London: Penguin Books 1998.

Fox, Jonathan, Religion as an Overlooked Element of International Relations. International Studies Review 3 (2001): 53-73.

Mazrui, Islamic and Western Values….

Spiegel, Steven. Religious Component of US Middle East Policy. Journal of International Affairs, (Fall/Winter), (1982): 235-246.