Religion and Conflict Transformation Videos
Interviews on Religion and Conflict Transformation
The interviews below illustrate the diversity of ways in which religion is relevant to conflict and offer insights into different aspects of working on conflicts with religious dimensions.
Click on a topic to jump to the relevant section:
Mediating in inter-cultural contexts
The relevance of religion for peacebuilding and foreign policy
The role of religion in conflict
Religion and conflict – case studies
Religion as a resource for peace
The role of religious leaders in peacebuilding
Dialog and mediation in conflicts where religion plays a role
Acknowledgements: The financial support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), in the framework of the Culture and Religion in Mediation program (a joint initiative of the CSS ETH Zurich and the Swiss FDFA), is gratefully acknowledged.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these videos are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Security Studies (CSS).
Mediating in inter-cultural contexts
In the following five videos, Dr Zaza Elsheikh draws upon her experience as a faith-based and community mediator in the UK, often working with Muslim communities, to share insights in conflict management. She discusses common stereotypes within society that surround gender and cultural construction and turns this around by letting these assumptions work in her favor. Her mediation practice involves innovative methods such as these, designed to overcome prejudice. The videos were filmed in Oberhofen, Switzerland in June 2016.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips:
1. external pageEmbracing Prejudice: Dr Zaza Elsheikh gives her unique perspective on embracing prejudice in the context of a Muslim woman working in mediation in the UK.
2. external pageHonor-Based Violence: Dr Zaza Elsheikh discusses "honor-based violence" and how this is tied in to feelings of shame within the context of her mediation work in the UK.
3. external pageIdentity Questions: Dr Zaza Elsheikh discusses the idea of exploring identity questions in community-based mediation.
4. external pageHigh, Low and Mid Context Cultures: Dr Zaza Elsheikh explains the terms "high", "low" and "mid" context in relation to culture and how these interact in conflict.
5. external pageWoman Mediator: Dr Zaza Elsheikh describes her experience of being a woman mediator and how gender influences her style of mediation.
The relevance of religion for peacebuilding and foreign policy
The following videos explore why religion in conflict is becoming increasingly relevant in peacebuilding and foreign policy. The interviews were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1. external pageThe growing awareness in foreign policy circles of religion’s relevance: Douglas Leonard, Executive Director of Al Amana Centre in Oman.
2. external pageHave conflicts with a religious dimension increased? Dr Isak Svensson, Associate Professor at Uppsala University.
How does religion influence or shape armed conflicts?
Religion can play a role in conflict in many ways, some of which are highlighted in the following videos. They were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1. external pageConflict along identity lines vs. conflict over religiously-framed issues: Dr Isak Svensson, Associate Professor at Uppsala University.
2. external pageReligion as a motivator for social change: Douglas Leonard, Executive Director of Al Amana Centre in Oman.
3. external pageThe importance of analysing religion’s role in conflict: Rev. Fr (Dr) John Bogna Bakeni, Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria.
Religion and conflict – case studies
In the interviews below, peacebuilders share their perspective on the role of religion in the specific context where they are working. The interviews were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1.external pageThe main challenges related to religion and conflict in southern Thailand: Dr Parichart Suwanbubbha, Director of The Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies and Associate Professor at the Mahidol University
2. external pageBuddhist nationalism in Sri Lanka and Myanmar: Harim Peiris, Senior Researcher and Head of Programs, Council for Public Policy, Sri Lanka
3. external pageReligion and conflict in Nigeria: Imam Abdulkareem Majemu Shefiu, Executive Director of the Islamic Platform Society of Nigeria and the Islamic Resource Centre, and Joint Zonal Coordinator for the South/West Zone in Lagos, Nigeria
4. external pageBoko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria: Rev. Fr (Dr) John Bogna Bakeni, priest of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria
5. external pageFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM): Peter Erhardy, Senior Monitoring Officer in the OSCE Mission to Skopje
Religion as a resource for peace
The ambivalence of religion’s role in conflict is often spoken about: how it can be used as a justification for violence but also as a resource for peace. The following videos consider different ways in which religion can positively contribute to building peace. The interviews were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1. external page3 ways religion can be part of the solution: Douglas Leonard, Executive Director of Al Amana Centre in Oman
2. external pageWhat can nations do on a foreign policy level when it comes to religion and conflict? Douglas Leonard, Executive Director of Al Amana Centre in Oman
The role of religious leaders in peacebuilding
The following videos discuss different aspects of working with religious leaders to build peace. The interviews were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1. external pageReligious leaders and interreligious dialog in southern Thailand: Dr Parichart Suwanbubbha, Director of The Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies and Associate Professor at the Mahidol University
2. external pageReligious leaders and peacebuilding in Nigeria (1): Imam Abdulkareem Majemu Shefiu, Executive Director of the Islamic Platform Society of Nigeria and the Islamic Resource Centre, and Joint Zonal Coordinator for the South/West Zone in Lagos, Nigeria
3. external pageReligious leaders and peacebuilding in Nigeria (2): Rev. Fr (Dr) John Bogna Bakeni, priest of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria
4. external pageReligious leaders and politics: Mohamed Abdulfatah, consultant with the Cordoba Foundation Geneva
Dialog and mediation in conflicts where religion plays a role
The interviews below offer reflections on the use of dialog and mediation to transform conflicts where religion plays a role. The interviews were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1. external pageDialog as tool for conflict transformation: Dr Parichart Suwanbubbha, Director of The Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies and Associate Professor at Mahidol University
2. external pageInterreligious dialog in southern Thailand: Dr Parichart Suwanbubbha, Director of The Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies and Associate Professor at the Mahidol University
3. external pageMediator pre-engagement questions: Mohamed Abdulfatah, consultant with the Cordoba Foundation Geneva
Deradicalization and violent extremism
Dr Omar Ashour defines deradicalization as a process of relative change through which an organization, faction or individual changes its views in terms of using political violence as a method for social and political change. Much of the current debate around the topic of violent extremism, focuses on the role of religion and religious leaders can play in preventing violent extremism. The following videos offer perspectives on different aspects of these topics. The interviews were conducted with a range of peace practitioners during the Religion and Mediation Course held at Bossey, Switzerland in November 2014.
To watch the individual videos, follow the links. If you would like to watch the full playlist, click on the embedded video below.
Short description of video clips
1. external pageThe delegitimization of violence: Dr Omar Ashour, Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics and Security Studies at the University of Exeter
2. external pageCommunities and counterterrorism: Mohamed Abdulfatah, consultant with the Cordoba Foundation of Geneva
3. external pageDeradicalization explained: Dr Omar Ashour, Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics and Security Studies at the University of Exeter
4. external pageTransformation from armed to unarmed political activism: Dr Omar Ashour, Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics and Security Studies at the University of Exeter
5. external pageShifting the views of religiously-inspired armed actors: Dr Omar Ashour, Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics and Security Studies at the University of Exeter
6. external pageReligious leaders as bridges between conflicting worldviews: Mohamed Abdulfatah, consultant with the Cordoba Foundation of Geneva