From Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) advocacy to interreligious engagement in foreign policy

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent years, Western governments have strengthened their foreign policy tools, global advocacy efforts and international coordination to protect Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). There is, however, a growing feeling that the current FoRB promotion approaches appear overall to be failing, as religious persecution and discrimination continue to increase in many parts of the world. Criticizing the secular policy mindset embedded in the current approaches, this article argues for a new postsecular foreign policy of religious engagement and advocates a distinctive strategy of “interreligious engagement” illustrating how interreligious dialogue and collaboration can be crucial policy tools to promote FoRB. This strategy is designed to break away from the predominant view among politics-makers in which religious actors are seen either as perpetrators or victims of FoRB violations. Instead, I argue, they should also be seen as responsible partners in combatting intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.