The Complex Reality of Religious Peacebuilding: Conceptual Contributions and Critical Analysis

by Katrien Hertog, Marc Gopin (Foreword by)

Overview

This insightful book focuses on the multifaceted subject of sustainable religious peacebuilding. Katrien Hertog discusses the ways in which religious actors can utilize resources to prevent violent conflict from occurring, reduce conflict when it does happen, and rebuild bridges between sides in after conflict has ceased. She examines the emergence of the field of religious peacebuilding, developing a conceptual framework that outlines how aspects of religious organizations can contribute to effectual peacebuilding and creating a screening model that allows readers to analyze the resources and obstacles to peacebuilding in-depth.

Using the Russia and the Orthodox Church as a major case study, Hertog clearly shows what the concrete resources for peace are, how they are applied, what obstacles are hindering their realization, and how these resources can be better utilized and supported. This book tackles the controversial issue of the place of religion and religious organizations in the peace process. While recognizing that no simple answer exists in solving ethnic, religious, and tribal conflict, Hertog presents the ways religion can be used to create lasting, sustainable peace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739139493
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	08/20/2010
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	6.35(w) x 9.49(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Katrien Hertog is a research fellow with the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at George Mason Unviersity. She is also director of the Peace Programs for the International Art of Living Foundation and the Prison SMART Europe Program.

Table of Contents

Foreword Marc Gopin vii

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

1 The Development of "Religious Peacebuilding" 1

Religious Peacebuilding as a New Field of Study 1

Development of the Field 6

Characteristics of the Field 18

Contributions to the Field 19

Conclusions 38

2 Conceptual Framework of Religious Peacebuilding 41

Peacebuilding 42

Religion 73

Religious Peacebuilding 86

Conclusions 120

3 A Screening Model for Religious Peacebuilding Resources and Obstacles: A Case Study of the Russian Orthodox Church 127

Methodology 131

Illustrating Examples of Analysis 135

Findings 161

Conclusions 206

Conclusions 211

Notes 221

Bibliography 249

Index 259

Editorial Reviews

Clear well-structured presentation of the emerging field of religious peacebuilding and a very good attempt of its systematization. This book is insightful reading for any peace theorist and practitioner and excellent resource for any serious student.

Alexei Bodrov

There are few books that successfully capture the emergence of a new field of study, this book has succinctly presented a set of theoretical concepts and practices of religious peacebuilding. Through a careful examination of the complex role of the Russian Orthodox Church, it innovatively explores the connections between religious studies and the emerging field of peacebuilding. By linking theory with practice, this book contributes to the gradual recognition of the field of religious peacebuilding as an area of study and practice.

Mohammed Abu-Nimer

From the Foreword: [This book] focuses on analysis of sustainable religious peacebuilding, and takes as its major case study the Russian Orthodox Church. This is well worth the effort, as the stability of Russia itself is vital for the global future on two separate continents.. .. I can think of few young scholars who can match Katrien Hertog in managing to not only master the emerging field of religious peacebuilding, but who have also advanced the field by mapping a new method of systematic case study analysis. This is what our field needs to day, on a global scale...

Marc Gopin

Regardless of one's view, theorizing religion as a resource within peacebuilding is far less developed than other subfields of peace studies, a deficiency that Katrein Hertog's The Complex Reality of Religious Peacebuilding addresses....The most notable strength of the book is its overview of existing literature on religious peacebuilding from the perspective of someone engaged in such activities, of someone working within the system of peacebuilding programs.

Practical Matters Journal

Katrien Hertog’s new book is a superb contribution to the literature on religious peacebuilding. She combines a masterful survey of the field with a unique case study of religious peacebuilding within the Russian Orthodox Church.

David Smock