Religion and Diplomacy

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how religion has had an impact on diplomatic practice all over the world, with mixed results. It shows how historically speaking, the religion/diplomacy venture can be viewed as a successful one- provided we understand the objective of this diplomacy to be the infliction of as much bloodshed, intolerance and subversion upon mankind as is humanly possible. It examines how acting as agents of religion, governments far and wide throughout the course of human history have sought to oppress their neighbors under a banner of religious truth and moral conquest and how in the modern context, holy wars are truly no less frequent than they have ever been. It looks at how religion has effected diplomatic practice since the very inception of civilization, as founding political precepts most often revolved around some concept of divinity. Indeed, most nations have traditionally sought to integrate religion and diplomatic practice into one seamless entity, for religion was understood as the ultimate justification for any sort of escapade into foreign territory.

From the Paper:

"The legacy of the Crusades has endured. The Muslims, once tolerant of Christians, developed a hatred and suspicion for the Christian faith that endures to this day. The outcome of the Crusades led to the Turkish wars of later years, in which Islamic expansion into Europe and the Balkans would set the stage for future Muslim-Christian conflicts. Also significant, the ideology behind the Crusades exists today as well. Religious persecution is not uncommon in the modern global context; the impact of religion upon diplomatic practice remains heavy-handed enough to provide us with contemporary examples of many a spirited genocide and plunder."

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