Religion as a Conversation Starter: Interreligious Dialogue for Peacebuilding in the Balkans

Description

Religion as a Conversation Starter is the first comprehensive analysis of the present state of interreligious dialogue for peacebuilding in Southeast Europe. It is based on empirically grounded and policy-oriented research, carried out throughout the Balkans. The study maps recent interreligious relations in this part of the world, throwing light on both the achievements and challenges of interreligious dialogue for peacebuilding in particular, and offering a set of up-to-date policy recommendations, whilst contributing to a greater understanding of the local particularities and how they relate to broader trends transnationally. Interreligious dialogue has been a central tool in the continuous international efforts to promote peaceful living together in multicultural and multireligious societies. This fascinating monograph explores the place of interreligious dialogue as a primary method in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and will be of interest to scholars of religious and peace studies, as well as those who advocate and carry out organized interventions in religion-related spheres.

Dr Ina Merdjanova is Director of the Center for Interreligious Dialogue and Conflict Prevention at the Scientific Research Department at Sofia University, Bulgaria. Professor Patrice Brodeur is the Canada Research Chair on Islam, Pluralism and Globalization at the University of Montreal, Canada.

"The authors have offered our field of religion and conflict resolution three gifts: an excellent exploration of appropriate definitions for what we do, a new model of in-depth field analysis from the Balkans to properly critique our own work, and powerful and insightful recommendations to donors and practitioners alike. Bravo!" - Mark Gopin, James H. Laue Professor of Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, and the Director of the Center on Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR), USA