Complex Reality of Religious Peacebuilding

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.

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., 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., 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., 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..., 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.

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.