RELG 6-Evolving international debates on religion&universal human rights

Religion & Foreign Policy: Introduction

Overview

This section introduces the study of religion in the context of foreign policy, highlighting the increasing academic and policy attention to the role of religion in international affairs, especially since the late 20th century.

• Secularized Approaches: For much of the 20th century, mainstream international relations (IR) theory and foreign policy analysis largely ignored religion, treating it as irrelevant to state behavior and global politics.

• Renewed Focus: Recent decades have seen a growing recognition of religion's strategic importance, particularly in the context of Cold War conflicts and post-Cold War global issues.

Outline of Key Topics

• Secularized Approaches: The tendency to overlook religion in IR theory and policy, despite its influence on global events.

• Academic and Policy Focus: The shift towards acknowledging religion as a significant factor in international relations.

• Institutional Architecture of Religion in Foreign Policy:

  • Religious Freedom

  • Religion and Development

  • Religious Engagement

Dimensions of the Debate

Major Themes in Religion and Foreign Policy

• Religious Freedom as a Foreign Policy Goal: The promotion of religious liberty as a core value in international relations and diplomacy.

• Religion and Security: The impact of religious ideologies and movements on national and international security.

• Religion and International Development: The role of faith-based organizations and religious values in shaping development aid and policy.

Religion and the Study of International Relations

Secularism in IR Theory

Throughout the 20th century, the academic discipline of international relations operated within a secular framework, often rendering religion invisible as a factor in global politics.

• Secular Frame: IR theories such as realism and liberalism typically excluded religious motivations from their analyses.

• Question of Relevance: Scholars have debated whether religion was truly irrelevant or simply overlooked due to prevailing academic norms.

Religion and the Cold War

Religion as an Ideological Weapon

During the Cold War, religion was mobilized as a counterforce to communism, which was often portrayed as atheistic and hostile to spiritual values.

• Presidential Rhetoric: U.S. leaders, such as President Truman, framed the conflict with communism in spiritual terms, emphasizing the opposition between religious faith and communist ideology.

• Example: President Truman's 1951 speech to the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church highlighted the perceived threat of communism to religious values and the importance of faith in countering this threat.

Institutionalization of Religion in U.S. Public Life

Symbolic and Policy Changes

• National Prayer Breakfast: The establishment of the President's National Prayer Breakfast (with figures like Billy Graham) as a public affirmation of religious values in American political life.

• Pledge of Allegiance: The phrase "one nation under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance during the 1950s, reflecting the intertwining of religion and national identity.

• National Motto: The U.S. national motto was changed from "E pluribus unum" (Out of many, one) to "In God we trust," further embedding religious language in state symbolism.

Summary Table: Key Developments in Religion and U.S. Foreign Policy

Period/Event	Religious Policy/Action	Significance
1950s (Cold War)	National Prayer Breakfast, "One nation under God," "In God we trust"	Symbolic integration of religion into national identity and anti-communist rhetoric
Late 20th Century	Growing academic and policy focus on religion	Recognition of religion's strategic importance in global affairs
Recent Decades	Institutional architecture: Religious Freedom, Religion and Development, Religious Engagement	Formal incorporation of religious considerations into foreign policy frameworks

Conclusion

The study of religion in foreign policy has evolved from being largely ignored to becoming a central concern in both academic and policy circles. This shift reflects the recognition that religion can be a powerful force in shaping international relations, influencing everything from ideological conflicts to development policy and diplomatic engagement.