Religion, Peacebuilding, and Social Cohesion in Conflict-affected Countries

Fletcher D. Cox, Catherine R. Orsborn, and Timothy D. Sisk (2014)

Key facts

Type of publication

Policy paper

Elements of social cohesion

Trust
Identity/feeling of belonging
Participation
Equality/Inequality

Geographical focus

Middle East and North Africa
South Asia
Latin America and Caribbean
Sub-Saharan Africa
East Asia and Pacific

Main thematic areas

Conflict & peacebuilding
Political institutions & governance

Link to publication

Summary

This report presents findings from a comparative research project of the Sié Chéou Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy at the University of Denver conducted in July 2012 - November 2014, supported by a grant from the Initiative on Religion and International Affairs of the Henry Luce Foundation. The project features country-level case studies of Guatemala, Kenya, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, employing the methodology of structured, focused comparison. This report provides principal findings from the case studies, and an integrative comparison that informs a final section articulating potential research-to-policy implications for peacebuilding strategy and practice aimed at fostering social cohesion.