Religion-based actors as peace partners in international relations?
Religious communities work in international networks for peace, justice and solidarity – even though perpetrators of violence who invoke religion repeatedly trigger foreign policy crises. Peace efforts and international relations therefore require religious competence. States and organisations have taken notice of the peace potential of religions, recognised the strategic importance of religion-related peace policy and initiated corresponding cooperation. At the same time, societies in Europe that are becoming more secular are confronted with communities outside Europe that are becoming more religious.
