How Religion Shapes Foreign Policy? An Explanatory Model for Non-Western States

Abstract

Focusing on the role of religion and culture in foreign policy not only addresses the increasing interest in the study of religion as an important element among international relations scholars, but also emphasizes the need for theorizing. While the literature on the role of religion in IR is expanding, it still lacks an overall approach to explain the main role of religion in foreign policy. This study contributes to that literature by focusing on how religion and culture plays a role in both the non-Western and rising countries. Although, the role of religion/culture in politics has a relatively short history in understanding state behavior, particularly in the study of foreign policy of rising states, this article argues that religious and cultural elements produce type of Strategic Mentality through which they influence foreign policy decisions both directly and indirectly much more than we think.

The United Arab Emirates’ Religious Soft Power through Ulema and Organizations

“…The emerging literature aims to bring an understanding of religion to the discipline of international relations and political science and to conceptualize religion within theoretical and empirical works in Western states (Bellin 2008;Haynes 2021a;Ozkan 2021;Sandal and Fox 2013;Snyder 2011;Toropova 2021). Some of the Gulf states, particularly Iran and Saudi Arabia, have been particularly important in terms of using religion in foreign affairs, Shi'ism for the former and Wahhabism for the latter (Mirza et al 2021;Yakar 2022, pp.…”

“…However, supposedly secular post-Westphalia was also awash with religious hard power initiatives. Even though all have different interpretations, many incidents which involve hard power revolved around religious discourse, from the Iranian Revolution of 1979 to the events of 9/11, from the US invasion of Afghanistan to its infamous war on terror, from state repression of Muslims in Sri Lanka to war in Yemen (Devotta 2018;Ozkan 2021;Yang and Li 2021).…”

The Power of Local Wisdom: Its Ability to Avoid and Resolve Social Conflicts and Local Government Regulations in Minangkabau

“…Interestingly, several studies explain that the past foreign and external colonial influences that permeate today do not erase religious ethics and morals and do not damage established traditions [10]. Their customs and culture create local wisdom and are well-preserved, maintained, and developed [11].…”