Religion and International Relations

theology and Inter guinea pig RelationsIntroductionReligion (noun) the belief in and worship of a superhuman accountantling power, peculiarly a personal God or gods.In advance(a) times, morality isnt just the belief and worship of a supernatural entity. It is a direction of life. Since birth, children argon indoctrinated into their parents religion. Traditions, practices and values, both positive and negative are taught till they become common fact. Religion permeates into the lives of people completely and seamlessly. minded(p) its pervasive nature, it is unsurprising that religion affects relations surrounded by people and on a fully grownr scale relationships between nations. This project analyses the effects of religion on the international scale. Through case studies, it will highlight the expedient as well as detrimental role of religion in maintaining intermission between countries. The article will non focus on the various contests/ repose processes themselve s, instead, it will detail the ghostlike background, the issues and proposed solutions. grammatical case claim 1 capital of Israel and the Israel heaven ConflictBackground to the Conflictcapital of Israel and other holy sites of the Middle eastern are holy to the trinity major Abrahamic religions namely Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Historically speaking, in that location collapse been sevenfold conflicts over the ownership of these locations. The intimately famous being The sanctum Crusades.In recent times, this has continue into the Israel nirvana conflict.The roots of the conflict lie in the tardily 19th and early twentieth century. This period saw the rise of nationalist movements amongst Jews and withal amongst Arabs. Both movements wished for a sovereign state for their people, in the region. It was too a time of large scale Judaic immigration into the region. Jews were escaping the funny house hunting expeditiond by the Russian Revolution and later t he final solution during WW2.In 1920,Haj Amin al-Hussein emerged as the leader for the Palestinian Arab jingoistic Movement. The man saw the Jewish Nationalist Movement and Jewish immigration as the primary enemies to his goal. This led to large scale riots and violence between the two sides. Sporadic bursts of violence continued till the start of WW2.Post WW2 tensions arose due to the large scale immigration of Holocaust survivors. This was fuelled by the stories that were coming out the Holocaust. The support resulted in Jews assail on the Arabs as well as the British Administration.In 1947, the British Mandate tone-beginninged the unify Nations to provide a solution to the problems in Palestine. The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine proposed a division of stain on the basis of religion. The area was to be divided into three arrays. An separatist Arab state and an Independent Jewish state while Jerusalem and Bethlehem remained chthonic UN control.Jews were diss atisfied by the loss of Jerusalem but accepted the decision. barely it was vehemently contendd by the Arabs. This led to eruption of a well-mannered War in the region. Jews in the region were conscripted into an army. With British aid, they annexed territories to form modern twenty-four hours Israel.The ConflictIn 1948, The Israeli Declaration of Independence was sign-language(a) officially declaring the State of Israel as an independent nation. Since then the region has been nether multiple crusades and conflicts. The Arab nations surrounding Israel universally argued its existence. They trained armies and rebels to conquer the nation.In 1967 during The Six Day War, Israel occupied areas of Palestine beyond its borders. Including the West affirm and the Gaza Strip. Israelis maintain since started settling in the region.Despite multiple attempts at mollification the standing issues of the conflict could not be resolved.From 2005 onwards the Hamas organisation gained lump in Palestine. The trash in recent years occurred due to uprise attacks coming from both side of the Gaza strip.The Standing IssuesJerusalemJerusalem is the around major issue. Both sides claim ownership of the metropolis. As stated antecedently Jerusalem is of great signifi throw outce to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam being an important and holy city for all of them. For Judaism in particular Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world. It is the antecedent location of the Jewish temples on theTemple Mountand was the capital of the ancient Israelite kingdom. It also contains the Jewish holy site, The Western Wall and the Mount of Olives. Hence the Israelis are unwilled to part with the city. For Islam, Jerusalem is the site ofMohammads Night Journeyto heaven, and theal-Aqsa mosque. For Christians, Jerusalem is the location ofthe agony of Christand theChurch of the sanctum Sepulchre.Presently, Israel considers the complete Jerusalem as part of its sovereign region. Jerusale m also is its capital. No other nation in the world accepts thisHoly sitesBoth sides cook concern over the treatment of their holy sites low the others control. Historically these concerns are founded, as both sides have proscribed worshippers while they were in control of the region. The treatment and possible malicious mischief of the sites under opposing rule is a concern as well.Proposed SolutionsThe approximately globally accepted solution is a Two State one. Since the conflict is religious in nature, it proposes splitting the region based on religion. With Palestine being comprised of the West Bank and Gaza Strip while Israel consists of the rest of the region. This would chequer that demographically Israel will have a Jewish majority with a prodigious Arab minority. While Palestine will have an Arab majority with a elegant Jewish minority.Jerusalem would serve as the capital of both nations. With the Arab part under the control of Palestine and the Jewish part under t he control of Israel.Israel has expressed concerns regarding safety to this plan. As the region has been under multiple terrorist attacks, it believes that having a border so close to Palestine would increase the risk to its citizens.Case Study 2 Islamic TerrorismIslamic terrorism comprises of terrorist acts do by people in the name of IslamIdeologyThe term jihad features a prominent role in militant Islam. Jihad literally translates to struggle or resistance. Based on context and writing. This trick have multiple interpretations. Peaceful interpretations include struggling to follow the behavior of God. However Jihad also has a military sense, it calls for the demur and expansion of the Islamic state. Defensive Jihad is considered an obligation of utmost wideness for all Moslems, while expansionist Jihad is optional.The ideology of Islamic terrorists insists that they are initiating a defensive Jihad against the West. Terrorists believe that the Western society and its polic ies are actively anti Islamic. As such they insist that their actions are in defence of their religion.The terrorists point out what they believe is a continuing war between Christianity and Islam. A war that started from the Crusades. By framing the fight as defensive, they appear to be a victim rather than an aggressor, and give struggle the very highest religious priority for all good Muslims.Many of the carmine terrorist groups use jihad to fight against Western nations and Israel. around militant Islamists oppose Israels existence.Another major horizon of terrorist ideology is the belief that Muslims have deviated from true Islam and must return to pure Islam as originally salutary during the time ofMuhammad.Pure Islam can sole(prenominal) be r from each oneed by applying a literal and strict interpretation of the ledger and Muhammads commands. The original sources should be see individually and Muslims simply should not follow the interpretations of Islamic scholars. In terpretation of the Quran from a historical, contextual perspective is corruption.In addition militants, scholars, and leaders oppose Western society for what they see as immoralsecularism. Terrorists claim that free lyric has led to the proliferation ofpornography,immorality,secularism,homosexuality,feminism etc. ideas and judgments that they oppose.ConflictsDue to their ideology, Islamic Terrorism has been in multiple conflicts throughout the world. In addition to this, Islam has had traditional rivalries with many religions. Including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism etc. bring forward increasing the issue.Some of the various conflict zones areCountry important religious groups involvedType of conflictAfghanistanExtreme, radical Fundamentalist Muslim terrorist groups non-MuslimsThe traditional base of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It was liberated by a word military effort. However the Taliban is rising again and fighting continues.IraqKurds, Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, weste rn build up forcesBy mid-2006, a small scale civil war, primarily between Shiite and Sunni Muslims started. Presently, the country is in another civil war against the ISILKashmirHindus MuslimsKashmir has been a contested region since the formation of India and Pakistan.KurdistanChristians, MuslimsPeriodic assaults on Christians occurMiddle eastern hemisphereJews, Muslims, ChristiansIsrael has always been a target of religious conflict. Thus Middle East remains as a volatile zonePakistanSunni Shiite MuslimsMutual attacks, and nightly strikes by Taliban.SomaliaWahhabi and Sufi MuslimsSufi Muslims moderate version of Islam are fighting followers of the Wahhabi tradition of Islam.ThailandBuddhists MuslimsMuslim rebels have been attacking southern Thailand.SolutionsAs such there is no uniform solution for Islamic terrorism. The locations and grievances of each conflict are extremely varied and cannot be uniformly addressed. The terrorists also enjoy support due to the economic an d social conditions of these regions. However generic wine solutions to address parts of this issue exist such as composition of humanitarian centres to help people socially.Mobilisation of religious leaders to publicly oppose these actions and remove the militant support base.Case Study 3 The Tibet China ConflictBackgroundThe Tibet China conflict is a historical and geopolitical debate. Both sides claim reign of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetans insist that they have largely been a historically independent nation, and believe the Chinese strain to be illegal. While the Chinese claim that Tibet was a part of Chinese administration until it was annexed by the British Raj to act as a original between India and China and after the Raj withdrew, the Chinese were able to regain their filth in 1951.The conflict also has an cultural and religious side. The ethnic aspect comes from the fact that the Tibetans of the Tibetan Plateau are a minority to the Han Chinese majority of China, Seco ndly most Tibetans are Buddhists, while religion is banned in Communist nations like China. The Chinese government has a invoice of persecuting religions, especially those that have widespread popularity like Buddhism has in China. Widespread persecution and the kick out of the Dalai Lama have only fuelled the clash.Present Day ScenarioTibet did not act in international organisations like League of Nations in the early 20th Century. As such it is unable to provide sufficient evidence for its sovereignty and independence. China maintains an extremely strict stance and prevents outside intervention.However there have been known cases of genocide against Tibetans and Buddhists in particular. Also development and increment in the region seems to affect and benefit only the Han Chinese immigrants.SolutionsThe most accepted solution seems to be to provide Tibet with more autonomy and exemption while keeping it under Chinese rule. This would ensure an end to religious persecution while also allowing more inclusive development in the region.Scholars also agree that the Dalai Lama must be allowed to return from exile and be an active part of the slumber process. The Dalai Lama has a great modulate in the Tibetan region and would be able to reassure and ride out hardliners.Case Study 4 Role of Christianity in Nazism and the HolocaustDuring his rise to power, Hitler realised the political significance of Christianity and Christian Churches. To this effect, the Nazi troupe started the promotion of prescribed Christianity. Positive Christianity differed from Christianity in many ways. Modern day historians agree that despite his claims, Hitler was anti Christianity. He used Positive Christianity to dislodge his actions and his power.Throughout his rule, Hitler called the Nazi cause as Christian. At the same time, he utilised the historical rivalry and hatred between Christians and Jews. To justify this, Positive Christianity openly rejected any Jewish involvemen t in the Holy Bible. ItRejected the Jewish-written parts of the Bible(including the entire Old Testament)Claimed Christ was Aryan and not JewishOpposed the existence of the Catholic ChurchPromoted national unity, and treasured to put all Protestant Churches under a single national Positive Christian ChurchIt emphasised Christ as a positive preacher and warrior against institutionalized JudaismHitler also used Christianity in his exculpation for the Holocaust. Claiming he is continuing Christs work by eliminating other races.Religion as a PeacemakerHistorically, religion has been a cause of conflict. However religion can also be the cause of peace. Most religions in the world advocate peace. The use of violence is advised only as a last course in defence. Even the concept of Jihad in Islam is used mainly for defending the Islamist nation.Religion can be used to eliminate the very cause of conflict itself, as opposed to merely stopping the fighting while the issues remain unaddresse d. This is especially true under the following conditions.religion is a significant contributor to the conflictreligious leaders on both sides wish for peaceReligious leaders are of particular importance in this approach as they are trusted and respected by their communities. This enables them toA leverage against those opposing peaceGenerate local, national and international support for peaceEnsure promises are kept at a local trainEmphasise on the maintenance of morality and humanity in peaceConflicts can be addressed byInterfaith dialogue and fundamental interaction to address issuesProposing a solution that can address the religious and ethnic needs of both sides as a compliment to diplomatic negotiations e.g. solutions proposed for the Israel Palestine conflictEstablishment of religious peacekeeping centres in strife divide regions like Iraq etc.By this method it is possible to mobilise religion into a peaceful force that can end wars that are not only religious in nature b ut of other origins as well.ReferencesBeginners Guide to the Israeli Palestinian Conflict (a video available on YouTube) A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflictby Jeremy PressmanBBC News reports on the Israel Palestinian ConflictReligiousTolerance.orgConflict Over Tibet Core Causes and Possible Solutions By Dustin StokesReligion and the Holocaust by Richard E Smith The Holy Reich Nazi Conceptions of Christianity by Richard Steigmann-GallReligious Contributions to Peacemaking When Religion Brings Peace, Not War