On the International Day of Peace which falls on Sept. 21, we are reminded of the fact that peace continues to be a major challenge in our times. But destroying human life and making war do not solve any problem. As the saying goes, “violence begets violence”. Unfortunately, in our increasingly interconnected world, violent conflict is witnessed almost in real time and every day, images of human suffering are being brought into our living room. At the same time, the diversity of factors that can lead to war or civil strife is put into sharper focus.
Territorial ambitions, geopolitical interests and political rivalry are only some of the causes of violent conflicts. Competition for natural resources, economic instability, social injustice and inequalities also increase the risk of confrontation, both within and between countries. And in a world of uprooted identities, shifting values and clashes between tradition and modernity, fundamentalism and extremism take prominent place whereas voices of moderation and rationality are marginalized. The language of “us and them” and the politics of fear tend to polarize perceptions and deepen divides, making ethnic and community-based conflicts more likely to occur.
In recent times, religion has again been perceived as a source of hostility and hatred. True, to suggest that religion can act as a positive force for peace is not a position that is always easy to defend. From Iraq to Afghanistan, from Kashmir to Sri Lanka, from Indonesia to Israel and Palestine, it often seems that religion fuels violence and raises the stakes of war. But the fact that religion is a factor in many contemporary crises does not necessarily mean that it is the trigger that initiated them.
To promote the idea that religion is one of the principal sources of harm and violence in the world is not only unfair; it is also dangerous because it diverts our attention from the political roots of most conflicts. Discriminations of every kind, social exclusion, economic injustice, military ambitions, lack of good governance and geopolitical rivalries play an important role in the waging of wars. Even in the case of culturally and religiously rooted conflicts, violence and extremism generally stem from the exploitation of religion for ideological goals. On the contrary, the positive influence of religion can be felt through the core values and common ideals of the great faith traditions, which urge their believers to respect both the most fundamental human value — the right to life of all — and the right to live in dignity. This basic tenet articulates the fundamental requirement for peaceful relations between peoples and societies. It underpins democracy and the rule of law and it lies at the heart of key international accords and agreements — most importantly, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Increasingly, religious leaders of all hues are using their influence to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and political means. In particular, the role of Muslim leaders in supporting peace efforts and condemning terrorism is often overlooked. But again and again, in every corner of the world, they have come out strongly to denounce violence as antithetical to Islamic teachings.
We cannot allow extremism and fundamentalism to divert religion from its humanistic path and make it an instrument of violence and terror. We cannot accept that in the name of the global fight against terrorism, politicians pass off their responsibility to ensure citizens a decent life, and to uphold the human rights standards on which stable societies and peaceful international relations are based.
Politics and religion should join forces against extremism, totalitarianism and exclusion. Politicians, religions leaders, churches and other confessional organizations should unite in their efforts to promote a global alliance for peace through education. In my view, the main way to prevent cross-cultural tensions is to improve education for inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue, mutual respect and understanding.
To help avoid a clash of civilizations, the Alliance of Civilizations initiative of the United Nations aims at playing a part to improve cross-cultural relations by reaffirming a paradigm of mutual respect among peoples of different cultures and religious traditions. It focuses namely on intercultural and inter-faith dialogue as a way to guarantee long-term peace and stability in the world. Initiated by the governments of Spain and Turkey, the alliance is now actively backed by a Group of Friends made up by more than 70 states and international organizations and bodies. It aims to build momentum behind a broad range of cross-cultural projects, consolidating bridges between diverse communities, and promoting pluralistic and more inclusive societies.
In January next year, an Alliance of Civilizations Forum will be held in Madrid, convening governments, international bodies, donor agencies, civil society and business leaders to develop cross-cultural partnerships and strengthen collaborative action in the fields of youth, education, media and migration.
Religious leaders will also take part in this event and will explore the specific roles they and their communities can play in promoting shared security and better understanding.
Notwithstanding significant efforts made in recent years to bridge cultural gaps at grassroots level, achieving the collective political will to address our world’s imbalances, tensions and sources of conflict remains the determining factor in the quest for peace.
— Jorge Sampaio is High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and a former president of the Portuguese Republic.
