German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

Religion for Peace: Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

Religion has become an increasingly contentious phenomenon, with religious violence and discrimination on the rise worldwide. However, there are also many societies that are examples of peaceful interreligious coexistence. We contribute to the rigorous empirical study of the link between religion and interfaith peace, especially regarding elements of positive peace like interreligious cooperation.
DFG, 2020-2024

Team

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Associate

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Head

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs / Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Research Questions

This project asks: What are the conditions and mechanisms of peaceful interfaith relations, and what policies are promising for promoting interfaith peace?

Specific questions are:
1.What are the conditions for peaceful interfaith relations worldwide?
2.What institutional, ideational, and other variables work in favor of peace when certain other conditions are not favorable to it?
3.What are the underlying mechanisms that link religion and peace?
4.What policies are hence promising for creating interfaith peace?

Contribution to International Research

In recent years, religion has become an increasingly contentious phenomenon, with religious violence and discrimination on the rise worldwide (e.g. Toft et al. 2011; Grim & Finke 2011; Fox 2016). However, according to the “ambivalence of the sacred” (Appleby 2000; Philpott 2007), religion is also connected to peace: interfaith peace is, in fact, the norm rather than the exception. Even where conditions seem less favourable, such as in religiously diverse and rather poor countries like Benin, Ghana, Mauritius, or Tanzania, peaceful coexistence occurs. Theoretically, religion is also a source of positive peace beyond neutralizing conflict risks (e.g. Hasenclever & Rittberger 2000). Religious ideas such as norms and values of nonviolence, universal love, tolerance, and forgiveness increase trust, prevent violence, inspire peace efforts during conflict, and foster reconciliation after it. Regarding the demography of religious identity groups, crosscutting cleavages and high diversity are favourable to peace (e.g. Gubler & Selway 2011). If structural conditions are unfavourable, inclusive institutions can accommodate the interests of religious communities; interreligious networks can reduce prejudice between them. However, while a growing body of empirical works has investigated the link between religion and violence (e.g. Svensson 2007, 2012; Toft 2007; Bormann et al. 2015; Basedau et al. 2016), interfaith peace has scarcely been studied empirically in a rigorous manner—especially the positive aspects of faith.
This project contributes to the rigorous empirical study of the link between religion and interreligious peace, especially regarding elements of positive peace such as interreligious cooperation.

Research Design and Methods

The project studied these questions in a nested research design (e.g. Lieberman 2005; Poteete et al. 2010) that connects different levels of analysis in order to make optimal use of the strengths of qualitative and quantitative strategies. First, the project refined the theorizing on religion and interreligious peace, including the development of a conceptualization of interreligious peace that explicitly accounts for elements of positive peace. We then used unique global data—compiled in previous projects—that provides information on religion and peace to identify global conditions of interfaith peace. The cross-country analysis was the basis for the selection of country cases that qualify as “unlikely success stories” of interfaith peace despite an unfavourable demography or previous conflict experience: Togo and Sierra Leone. We explored reasons for the unlikely success of maintained interreligious peace using qualitative methods and tested hypotheses on causal mechanisms behind interreligious peace via experiments . These results can serve to identify, compile data on, and test additional factors affecting interreligious peace that were not considered in the initial quantitative analysis. The last step comprised dissemination activities, including publication endeavours and policy advice in societies at risk of interreligious conflict.

Preliminary Findings

This project contributes in three ways to research on religion and peace: First, it proposes a definition of interreligious peace and reviews the relatively scarce research on (religious) determinants of interreligious peace. Second, it measures interreligious peace in a global comparative study and underscores how state-religion relations create conditions for interreligious peace. Third, it allows insights on mechanisms behind interreligious peace using qualitative and quantitative data from Togo and Sierra Leone.

The project’s definition conceptualizes interreligious peace as the absence of interreligious physical violence, hostile attitudes and perceived threats, and the presence of interreligious cooperation and trust. A systematic review of the existing quantitative literature spotlights the scarcity of research on religious determinants of interreligious peace, particularly regarding the role of religious elites and institutions. Efforts to map interreligious peace show great regional variation but overall we observed a global downward trend. In the global comparative study, the project investigated three main religious correlates of peace, namely religious ideas and norms, religious demography, and state-religion relations. The findings highlight how state institutions matter for interreligious peace: While secularization seems particularly important for peaceful interreligious coexistence, state discrimination is undermining interreligious peace in general (Hoffmann et al. 2024).

Turning to Togo and Sierra Leone - two unlikely success stories of interreligious peace - we compiled local theories on factors contributing to maintaining interreligious peace. The combined knowledge of conversation partners in Togo and Sierra Leone suggests that strong social relationships and norms, inclusive religious ideas, lived tolerance and institutional cooperation as well as state protection of freedom of religion and belief protect interreligious peace despite unfavorable conditions (Akinocho et al. 2024). Research with residents of Lomé and Freetown shows that pro-mixing ingroup norms are related to more interactions between members of religious groups. In contrast, individuals’ preferences to interact with those similar to themselves were a barrier to interreligious contact. Inclusive religious ideas and knowledge of outgroup religious practices can be factors reducing preferences for similar others while exclusive religious ideas reinforce them (Köbrich et al. 2023). Further, in an experimental study, videoclips wiht peace messages effectively increased cooperation and willingness for contact across religious divides. Against our expectations, we found video peace messages by non-leaders to be at least as effective as those from religious leaders – if not more so.

Publications and outputs of the project can be found below.

Contribution | 10/2024

Putting Interreligious Peace Together: Insights from Two Years of Research

The project „Religion for Peace: Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace“ explored ways to build and maintain peace between different religious groups. This illustrated summary presents key findings and highlights what we learned about interreligious peace, challenges involved, and ideas about what can be done to put interreligious peace together.

Theodora Benesch

Research Fellow

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding | 09/2024

Correlates of Peace: Religious Determinants of Interreligious Peace

While the study of interreligious conflict is a growing field of research, interreligious peace lacks conceptualisation and empirical investigation. This article proposes a concept of interreligious peace that distinguishes between positive and negative elements as well as attitudinal and behavioural aspects.

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Julia Köbrich

Dr. Eric Stollenwerk

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

GIGA Focus Africa | 2/2024

Peaceful or Contentious? How to Promote Interreligious Peace in Africa

In African societies, celebrations of religious diversity exist alongside (violent) religious extremism. What determines whether interreligious relations are peaceful or contentious? What can we learn from positive examples, and what role does religious extremism play in interreligious peace?

Hervé Akinocho

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Julia Köbrich

GIGA Focus Africa | 1/2024

Ten Things to Watch in Africa in 2024

Democracy will remain strained in Africa, with crucial elections in 2024. Conflict risks may arise alongside the further waning of Western influence. Economic growth will continue, but also structural socio-economic challenges too. Western policymakers should address migration and decarbonisation.

Dr. Martin Acheampong

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Dr. Julia Grauvogel

Contribution | 2024

Pictures of Religion and Interreligious Relations in Everyday Life

For a photo project Togolese and Sierra Leonean participants took photos of religion and interreligious relations in their everyday life. This documentation of the project displays their diverse perspectives and invites observers to reflect on religion and interreligious relations in their lives.

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Associate

Conference | 25/02/2021 - 26/02/2021

Religion for Peace - Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

2nd Meeting of the German Political Psychology Network, Online Event Organisers: Friedrich Schiller University Jena Julia Köbrich (Speaker)

Presentation of the DFG funded project "Religion for Peace - Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace"

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 06/04/2021 - 09/04/2021

Rebels with a Cause: Does ideology make armed conflicts longer and bloodier

ISA Annual Convention 2021, Online Event Organisers: International Studies Association Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (Speaker), Mora Deitch (Speaker)

Paper with Mora Deitch and Ariel Zellman

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs / Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Mora Deitch

Bar-Ilan University

Federal Foreign Office | 20/01/2021

Ausbreitung des Dschihadismus im subsaharischen Afrika. Die politische Pandemie?

Organiser: Federal Foreign Office Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (Speaker)

Trends, Handlungsbedarf, mutmaßliche Ursachen und Politikempfehlungen. Vortrag beim 34. Afrikagesprächskreis des Auswärtigen Amtes.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs / Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Deutsche Welle | Interview | 12/03/2024

Religion in Africa: High tolerance for other faiths

Muslims and Christians in much of sub-Saharan Africa have a long history of religious tolerance. Sierra Leone in particular stands out as a positive example.

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Reporting on Workshop Lomé: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

Local radio and webnews reported on our activities as part of the workshop in Lomé on conditions and mechanisms of interreligious peace.

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Associate

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 25/09/2023 - 26/09/2023

Workshop Lomé: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

Workshop Lomé: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace, Hotel Onomo, Lomé Dr. Lisa Hoffmann (Panelist, Organiser), Julia Köbrich (Panelist, Organiser)

This workshop discussed facets of interreligious relations, focusing on the role religion can play for peace. It aimed to identify the conditions and mechanisms that facilitate interfaith peace and looked at the actors and approaches involved in strengthening peaceful relationships across religious communities.

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Associate

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Workshop | 05/06/2023 - 06/06/2023

Workshop Berlin: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

Workshop Berlin: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace, GIGA Office Berlin, Berlin Dr. Lisa Hoffmann (Panelist, Organiser), Dr. Amanda tho Seeth (née Kovacs) (Panelist, Organiser), Julia Köbrich (Panelist, Organiser), Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (Organiser)

Dr. Lisa Hoffmann

Dr. Amanda tho Seeth (née Kovacs)

Julia Köbrich

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Conference | 30/09/2021 - 03/10/2021

Rebels with a Cause? Does Ideology Make Armed Conflicts Longer and Bloodier?

APSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2021: Promoting Pluralism, Washington State Convention Center and the Sheraton Grand Seattle / online, Seattle Organisers: American Political Science Association Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (Speaker)

Paper presentation at the annual meeting of APSA 2021 (online)

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs / Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Conference | 25/02/2021 - 26/02/2021

Religion for Peace - Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

2nd Meeting of the German Political Psychology Network, Online Event Organisers: Friedrich Schiller University Jena Julia Köbrich (Speaker)

Presentation of the DFG funded project "Religion for Peace - Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace"

Julia Köbrich

Doctoral Researcher

Conference | 06/04/2021 - 09/04/2021

Rebels with a Cause: Does ideology make armed conflicts longer and bloodier

ISA Annual Convention 2021, Online Event Organisers: International Studies Association Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (Speaker), Mora Deitch (Speaker)

Paper with Mora Deitch and Ariel Zellman

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs / Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Mora Deitch

Bar-Ilan University

Federal Foreign Office | 20/01/2021

Ausbreitung des Dschihadismus im subsaharischen Afrika. Die politische Pandemie?

Organiser: Federal Foreign Office Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (Speaker)

Trends, Handlungsbedarf, mutmaßliche Ursachen und Politikempfehlungen. Vortrag beim 34. Afrikagesprächskreis des Auswärtigen Amtes.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau

Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs / Editor GIGA Focus Africa

Conference | 25/09/2023 - 26/09/2023

Workshop Lomé: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace

Workshop Lomé: Religion for Peace? Identifying Conditions and Mechanisms of Interfaith Peace, Hotel Onomo, Lomé Dr. Lisa Hoffmann (Panelist, Organiser), Julia Köbrich (Panelist, Organiser)