Religion, Conflict, and Peace

Religious actors can both promote and undermine sustainable development. Many stakeholders and scholars recognise the relevant role of religious actors and place great hope in their potential. Alongside GIGA scholars, members of the “Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence from Universität Bayreuth discussed this topic in depth. Video of event now online!

Education, sustainable development, and freedom of religion or belief are closely interrelated, yet this has been little studied to date. At this GIGA Talk, organised in cooperation with the BMZ, we exchange ideas between politics and science on the global status of freedom of religion.

Religion – Christianity, Islam, or mixed forms with a range of traditional beliefs – is a central element of cultural life in many African countries. The extent to which religion is the trigger for violent conflicts in African countries and what other factors play a role will be discussed by moderator Julia-Niharika Sen, Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau, Caroline Hoffmann, and Jens Borchers.

Please join us for a talk by Dr. Najeeb Alomaisi, who will analyse Yemen’s protracted conflict and the repeated failure of peacebuilding initiatives through the lens of political economy and comparative analysis with Sudan, Libya, and Iran. He will demystify contemporary Yemen and offer actionable policy recommendations.

With Maduro‘s arrest by US forces, Trump’s sanctions on President Petro, and crucial elections ahead, Colombia faces unprecedented challenges. This GIGA Talk examines how the peace process, drug trafficking, and US–Venezuela tensions will shape Colombia‘s political future and Germany‘s engagement with the country.

Since the “Twelve-Day War” with Israel, Iran has undergone transformations on multiple levels. This GIGA Forum ONLINE explores how the conflict has reshaped regional and international politics, state–society relations in Iran, and the prospects for the Islamic Republic’s future.

This GIGA Talk explores how people and politicians across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East view today’s major conflicts — perspectives often missing from European media. Our panelists discuss how history, regional dynamics, and strategic priorities shape these diverse interpretations of events.

This GIGA Forum sheds light on the often-overlooked domestic transitions occurring since the invasion in 2003, and the role of Iraqi civil society in shaping them. Video now online!

Religious actors can both promote and undermine sustainable development. Many stakeholders and scholars recognise the relevant role of religious actors and place great hope in their potential. Alongside GIGA scholars, members of the “Africa Multiple” Cluster of Excellence from Universität Bayreuth discussed this topic in depth. Video of event now online!

Education, sustainable development, and freedom of religion or belief are closely interrelated, yet this has been little studied to date. At this GIGA Talk, organised in cooperation with the BMZ, we exchange ideas between politics and science on the global status of freedom of religion.

Religion – Christianity, Islam, or mixed forms with a range of traditional beliefs – is a central element of cultural life in many African countries. The extent to which religion is the trigger for violent conflicts in African countries and what other factors play a role will be discussed by moderator Julia-Niharika Sen, Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau, Caroline Hoffmann, and Jens Borchers.