The Role of Religion in the Causation of Global Conflict & Peace and Other Related

Issues Regarding Conflict Resolution

Over the past decades, religion was often seen as a key cause of conflict, both in

individual societies and on the international scene. For instance, in the year 1993, Samuel

Huntington claimed that religious and cultural identities would be the main driver of

international conflict in the new world order following the end of the Cold War. He argued that

although the nation state would remain the most powerful actor in the international arena, the

‘clash of civilizations’(which is based mostly along religious lines) would become the new force

fueling conflict. He argues that civilizations compete on the international scene, and that this

competition can turn into violent conflict, most importantly because of the different religions that

have formed these civilizations (Silvestri & Mayall, 2015).

Aside from being a stimulus of conflict, some anthropologists and political scientists

argue that religion may indirectly foster or tolerate violence. Galtung (1969) emphasizes that

religion is often the source of ‘cultural violence’, a form of violence that is used to legitimize

other forms of violence. Without seeking to establish a direct cause and effect between religion

and violence, Galtung shows how different factors such as religion, ideology, language and

ethnicity become intertwined to shape ways of thinking and behaviors that can lead to situations

of exclusion, discrimination and eventually also physical violence. According to Smock (2008),

no major religion throughout the world is exempt from complicity in violent conflict. Religious

conviction certainly was one of the motivations for the September 11 attacks that caused

nationwide distress in the US and global panic in the year 2001. Some Buddhist monks assert an

exclusively Buddhist identity for Sri Lanka, fanning the flames of conflict there. Some Christian
and Muslim leaders from former Yugoslavia saw themselves as protecting their faiths when they

defended violence against the opposing faith communities in the Balkan wars.

On the contrary, recent research studies have found no general causal relationship

between religion and conflict when looking at all of the current conflicts in the world. Although

some of the conflicts in the modern world were fueled by religion, it has only been one of the

minor roots of disputes between nations. If anything, it has been an essential tool in promoting

global peace in the past few years. Smock (2008) stated that with so much emphasis on religion

as a source of conflict, the role of religion as a force in peacemaking is usually overlooked.

Religious affiliation and conviction often motivates religious communities to advocate particular

peace-related government policies. Religious communities also directly oppose repression and

promote peace and reconciliation.

In case of a crisis or a conflict, the international media can attract worldwide attention.

The mass media is a pervasive part of daily life especially in industrialized countries and thus

able to shine a light on conflicts anywhere in the world. Since most armed conflicts these days

have governmental and not territorial reasons; the parties are often concerned with making sure

that the majority of people are on “their” side, which bears a lot of potential for misrepresenting

facts and trying to seize control over the distribution of information. For this very reason the

intervention of unbiased and free global media is important not only for the world public but also

for the people directly affected (Kuusik, 2010).

Journalism is powered through the use of media and through journalism, peacebuilding

can be enhanced. According to Kuusik (2010), peace journalists try to uncover the causes behind

a conflict and true goals of all participants while making sure to humanize all victims of the

conflict. The journalists do not try to exploit the loss and suffering but make sure that the
reporting is balanced and also demonstrate how easily news can be manipulated. Part of the

ethical guidelines for this kind of reporting is to bring out people that use peaceful measures and

speak out against war and violence and document the suffering and loss on all sides. Possible

solutions and trying to prevent further escalation of the conflict are at the center of peace

journalism as well.

Italy, a first-world country and a very wealthy nation, has very close ties with its religious

sector. Rome is found in Italy which is the capital city of Christianity and it serves as a

stronghold of many religious beliefs, causing it to be vulnerable to religious conflicts. But Italy is

taking certain measures to promote peace. They do not tolerate the use of violence in resolving

conflicts. For instance, according to TheLocal (2018), when US and its allies launched missile

attacks against Syria in 2018, the prime minister of Italy has boldly stated its standpoint on the

issue; he quoted, “We have made clear to our allies that we are opposed to any escalation and

that it is impossible to bring the conflict to end only with the use of force and the idea of

deposing the dictator [President Bashar al] Assad by military means.” Italy, being an ally of the

United States, had refused to contribute to the bloodshed and firmly stated that there is no use in

ending conflicts through the means of violence. Moreover, according to TheLocal (2017), Italy

has even offered a helping hand by giving Syrian refugees a chance to start a new life in their

country. One refugee even mentioned that Italy will be an escape from their trauma of Syria's

six-year war.

Additionally, according to PeaceAgency.Org (2018), Italy has been a regular contributor

to peacekeeping interventions, for example in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, and most

recently, in Lebanon through supporting conflict prevention, reconciliation and peacebuilding.

Specifically, Italy has taken a huge action in promoting peace when the government created the
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo

Sviluppo, or AICS) in 2014. Its directors aim to develop the agency’s capacities on conflict

prevention and peacebuilding.

In conclusion, religion may be used as a tool both for creating and resolving conflicts. It

lies in the hands of men whether to use it for “good” or for “bad.” It is up to the people,

especially religious leaders, on how to use “religion” in a global context. Moreover, people are

media and other tools in promoting peace and resolving conflicts. Through peace journalism,

people are becoming more aware of the global situation. Possible solutions and trying to prevent

further escalation of the conflict are at the center of peace journalism as well. Additionally,

different countries have taken respective measures to promote peace. For example, Italy had

created an agency called the AICS to prevent conflicts and contribute to peacebuilding.

Jean Loren M. Bunzol

Reaction

Religion is a really sensitive topic, for it reflects culture, traditions, beliefs on the sanctity

of life, and a lot of other untouchable topics in our society. It had perpetrated a lot of conflicts

and had triggered wars as recorded in history. The difference in the collective beliefs of groups

of people is what causes the upsurge of conflicts among men. This often leads to the use of

violence and war in order to win and prove their individual causes, inflicting suffering and pain

on the innocent in the process. I have seen numerous historical documentaries and movies, and

have read a handful of novels and books based from historical accounts to claim that wars

rooting from religious conflicts have done no good on the lives of the innocent. Using violence
for religious causes only defeats the purpose of religion itself. Aside from worshipping a god, I

personally believe that religion was made to perpetuate “good” in this world, to serve God by

doing good to the people, to serve Him and His people, and most importantly, to love and to

protect.

We may have different gods and different beliefs, but I do not think that it should be an

excuse to perpetuate violence in this world in order to prove that one religion is more superior

than the other. If anything, I think that religion should be the main acting force for us to do good

and help others in need. After all, we, humans, have spawned from the same origin. We are so

much alike from bones to flesh, but we let our differences get the best of us. We harness our

differences into hatred instead of creating something good out of it. We let it turn into resentment

and other hateful things. The world does not need all of these things. The world needs love,

kindness, compassion, understanding, and I believe that all of these could stem from having faith

on religion. The world and its children have had enough taste of the bitterness of war and

violence caused by religious conflicts. I think it is time to recalibrate the ways of religions from

all over the world and change their directions in the purpose of having a more unified goal:

Building peace and spreading love.

Peace-building can be made possible only if all religious leaders will agree to the same

goal. Many religious groups have already started acting on this goal and this may be the start of a

new era for the human race. Through inter-faith dialogues and other religious movements, this

goal can be achieved. As more people get involved with this goal, the chances of success also

surge up, so it is important that not only are the religious leaders involved in this, but also the

government officials and the acting leaders of each country. And as individuals who will benefit

in this purpose, we must also contribute to this cause as much as possible.

 I may not have a dream of my own, but I dream that the future generations will be born

into a world filled with love and peace. I dream that they would not have to worry about getting

snatched from their mothers’ arms, fending for themselves, not having something to eat, not

being able to go to school, and all other unjust happenings caused by wars and conflicts. As a

firm believer of the Divine and religion, I earnestly pray that they would not experience these

terrible things and be able to live in peace.

Ishmael A. Peras

Reaction

There are global conflicts because of different beliefs and different religions. Because of

great loyalties of the people to their religion, they create issues that may destroy other religion’s

name. If a religion disrespects another religion, they will just come back at each other, and it will

go on and on.

For me, to commit global peace, we need to respect others beliefs. I don’t understand

why religions are the cause of all these conflicts when the real goal of these religions is to guide

the people into the right way, to have faith and to have peace. We need to have peace in this

world because global conflicts are the cause of war. Due to wars, many lives are suffering

including innocent kids, families, and it may even destroy our beautiful nature. People are losing

their loved ones because of war due to religions.

In my mind, I think what needs to be done is to have a peaceful talk between all these

religions and have an agreement to implement peace in the whole world. They must promise that
they won’t disrespect the other religions no matter what and they must respect the beliefs, Gods,

rituals, and traditions of one another.

References
Inside the 'humanitarian corridor' offering Syrian refugees a new life in Italy. (2017, Marh 19). Retrieved
from www.thelocal.it: https://www.thelocal.it/20170319/inside-the-humanitarian-corridor-
offering-syrian-refugees-a-new-life-in-italy

ITALY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACEBUILDING. (2018, July 11). Retrieved from www.peaceagency.org:

http://www.peaceagency.org/en/2018/07/11/italys-contributions-peacebuilding-2018/

Kuusik, N. (2010, August 28). The Role of the Media in Peace Building, Conflict Management, and
Prevention. Retrieved from www.e-ir.info: https://www.e-ir.info/2010/08/28/the-role-of-media-
in-peace-building-conflict-management-and-prevention/

Silvestri, S., & Mayall, J. (2015). The Role of Religion in Conflict and Peace-Building. London: THE BRITISH
ACADEMY.

Smock, D. (2008, February). Religion in World Affairs: Its Role in Peace and Conflict. Retrieved from
www.usip.org: https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/resources/sr201.pdf

What is Italy's position on Syria? (2018, April 18). Retrieved from www.thelocal.it:
https://www.thelocal.it/20180418/what-is-italys-position-on-syria

Individual Contributions to the Research Essay

Ishmael A. Peras

Over the past decades, religion was often seen as a key cause of conflict, both in

individual societies and on the international scene. For instance, in the year 1993, Samuel

Huntington claimed that religious and cultural identities would be the main driver of

international conflict in the new world order following the end of the Cold War. He argued that

although the nation state would remain the most powerful actor in the international arena, the

‘clash of civilizations’(which is based mostly along religious lines) would become the new force

fueling conflict. He argues that civilizations compete on the international scene, and that this
competition can turn into violent conflict, most importantly because of the different religions that

have formed these civilizations (Silvestri & Mayall, 2015).

In case of a crisis or a conflict, the international media can attract worldwide attention.

The mass media is a pervasive part of daily life especially in industrialized countries and thus

able to shine a light on conflicts anywhere in the world. Since most armed conflicts these days

have governmental and not territorial reasons; the parties are often concerned with making sure

that the majority of people are on “their” side, which bears a lot of potential for misrepresenting

facts and trying to seize control over the distribution of information. For this very reason the

intervention of unbiased and free global media is important not only for the world public but also

for the people directly affected (Kuusik, 2010).

Additionally, according to PeaceAgency.Org (2018), Italy has been a regular contributor

to peacekeeping interventions, for example in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, and most

recently, in Lebanon through supporting conflict prevention, reconciliation and peacebuilding.

Specifically, Italy has taken a huge action in promoting peace when the government created the

Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo

Sviluppo, or AICS) in 2014. Its directors aim to develop the agency’s capacities on conflict

prevention and peacebuilding.

Possible solutions and trying to prevent further escalation of the conflict are at the center

of peace journalism as well. Additionally, different countries have taken respective measures to

promote peace. For example, Italy had created an agency called the AICS to prevent conflicts

and contribute to peacebuilding.

Jean Loren M. Bunzol

 Aside from being a stimulus of conflict, some anthropologists and political scientists

argue that religion may indirectly foster or tolerate violence. Galtung (1969) emphasizes that

religion is often the source of ‘cultural violence’, a form of violence that is used to legitimize

other forms of violence. Without seeking to establish a direct cause and effect between religion

and violence, Galtung shows how different factors such as religion, ideology, language and

ethnicity become intertwined to shape ways of thinking and behaviors that can lead to situations

of exclusion, discrimination and eventually also physical violence. According to Smock (2008),

no major religion throughout the world is exempt from complicity in violent conflict. Religious

conviction certainly was one of the motivations for the September 11 attacks that caused

nationwide distress in the US and global panic in the year 2001. Some Buddhist monks assert an

exclusively Buddhist identity for Sri Lanka, fanning the flames of conflict there. Some Christian

and Muslim leaders from former Yugoslavia saw themselves as protecting their faiths when they

defended violence against the opposing faith communities in the Balkan wars.

On the contrary, recent research studies have found no general causal relationship

between religion and conflict when looking at all of the current conflicts in the world. Although

some of the conflicts in the modern world were fueled by religion, it has only been one of the

minor roots of disputes between nations. If anything, it has been an essential tool in promoting

global peace in the past few years. Smock (2008) stated that with so much emphasis on religion

as a source of conflict, the role of religion as a force in peacemaking is usually overlooked.

Religious affiliation and conviction often motivates religious communities to advocate particular

peace-related government policies. Religious communities also directly oppose repression and

promote peace and reconciliation.

 Journalism is powered through the use of media and through journalism, peacebuilding

can be enhanced. According to Kuusik (2010), peace journalists try to uncover the causes behind

a conflict and true goals of all participants while making sure to humanize all victims of the

conflict. The journalists do not try to exploit the loss and suffering but make sure that the

reporting is balanced and also demonstrate how easily news can be manipulated. Part of the

ethical guidelines for this kind of reporting is to bring out people that use peaceful measures and

speak out against war and violence and document the suffering and loss on all sides. Possible

solutions and trying to prevent further escalation of the conflict are at the center of peace

journalism as well.

Italy, a first-world country and a very wealthy nation, has very close ties with its religious

sector. Rome is found in Italy which is the capital city of Christianity and it serves as a

stronghold of many religious beliefs, causing it to be vulnerable to religious conflicts. But Italy is

taking certain measures to promote peace. They do not tolerate the use of violence in resolving

conflicts. For instance, according to TheLocal (2018), when US and its allies launched missile

attacks against Syria in 2018, the prime minister of Italy has boldly stated its standpoint on the

issue; he quoted, “We have made clear to our allies that we are opposed to any escalation and

that it is impossible to bring the conflict to end only with the use of force and the idea of

deposing the dictator [President Bashar al] Assad by military means.” Italy, being an ally of the

United States, had refused to contribute to the bloodshed and firmly stated that there is no use in

ending conflicts through the means of violence. Moreover, according to TheLocal (2017), Italy

has even offered a helping hand by giving Syrian refugees a chance to start a new life in their

country. One refugee even mentioned that Italy will be an escape from their trauma of Syria's

six-year war.
 In conclusion, religion may be used as a tool both for creating and resolving conflicts. It

lies in the hands of men whether to use it for “good” or for “bad.” It is up to the people,

especially religious leaders, on how to use “religion” in a global context. Moreover, people are

media and other tools in promoting peace and resolving conflicts. Through peace journalism,

people are becoming more aware of the global situation.