Why Justice Requires More than a Verdict: Religion and Reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In today's blogpost Sanne Hupkes reflects on last week's events during the ICTY judgement of Ratko Mladic and the trial's implications on 'justice'. Sanne is a PHD student related to the Centre and her research focuses on the role of (power-sharing) democracy in peace operations and she is concerned with the place of (religious) collective identities within democracy …

Can Religion Promote Reconciliation in Zimbabwe?

  Zimbabwe still struggles to cope in the aftermath of the economic and political violence of the early to mid-2000s. To many observers, Zimbabwe remains a divided and undemocratic ‘failed state’. In today’s post, Gladys Ganiel reviews a new book by Joram Tarusarira, which explores how religion might promote democratization and reconciliation in Zimbabwe. Gladys Ganiel …

Reconciliation and Religio-political non-conformism in Zimbabwe

Earlier this year, Joram Tarusarira published his important book that analyses religious actors and identifies a specific form of engagement that they display in contexts of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Joram Tarisarira is a lecturer in Religion and Conflict and Deputy Director of the Centre for Religion, Conflict and the Public Domain, Faculty of Theology and Religious …

Peace in Colombia: An ambitious project finally starts

Two weeks ago, Colombia’s congress ratified the peace agreement that has been painstakingly negotiated, voted on and renegotatied in the last months. In today’s post, dr. Sandra Rios analyses some of the key factors, including the role of religious actors, at stake in the journey to peace in Colombia.   Sandra works for the Utrecht University of Law …

Religion and Conflict: Beyond Clichés and Stereotypes

Religion and conflict seem to be more prevalent than ever in contemporary global politics and society. So often in public debate we hear that religion is either violent or it is peaceful, that it is oppressive or it promotes justice. But are these the only two ways of thinking about religion and conflict? In today’s …

Change the language, change the story? Some thoughts on religion, conflict and peace in the Middle East and beyond Part Two

In today's post, Erin Wilson continues her reflections on shifting the way we think and talk about conflict and peace. In part one, I outlined some ways in which contemporary discussion on peace and conflict analysis is affected and arguably limited by thinking in narrow either/or terms and the language we use to talk about conflict. …

Change the language, change the story? Some thoughts on religion, conflict and peace in the Middle East and beyond Part One

Following last night's ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Erin Wilson considers whether the chances for lasting peace might be increased by changing how we think and talk about conflict and peace. Last night brought the welcome news that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and Palestine following the latest round of violence. While this …