Peace, Conflict and the Resurgence of Religion in World Politics

Abstract

Religion has become an issue that not only affects domestic politics but also international security and world peace. There is a debate among scholars on how to interpret this resurgence of religious identity in international politics. There are scholars who regard the resurgence of religion as the reflection of the undeniable importance of religion to human beings who find meaning in life through religion. On the other hand, this phenomenon can be understood as a manifestation of the importance that identity politics, based on factors like race, religion and ethnicity has gained in international politics in the global age. There are interpretations that emphasize that the resurgence of identities in the global age is a result of the competition for power and resources. This has important implications for understanding the principles which can be used to resolve the conflicts associated with the resurgence of religion internationally as well as at the domestic level. Hence, this paper reviews some of these arguments and attempts to probe the factors behind the resurgence of identity politics across the globe in the post-cold war era. The paper also tries to understand the ways of conflict transformation, thereby emphasizing the role of peace education in the process.