Diplomatic and Foreign Policy Approach: Leveraging Religion for Successful International Relations
India's rich religious diversity can be a potent instrument for cultural diplomacy, as demonstrated by several states that have strategically leveraged religious leaders and institutions to achieve foreign policy objectives. This practice, known as religious diplomacy, has been employed in various ways, from moderating tensions to exerting influence in foreign affairs.
One notable example is the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in 2019 between India and Pakistan. This corridor, allowing Sikh pilgrims from India to visit a holy site in Pakistan without a visa, has helped to ease diplomatic tensions between the two rival states. The religious diplomacy initiated by this move led to backchannel conversations between the two countries' security establishments, ultimately contributing to a ceasefire agreement in February 2021.
India has also demonstrated a pragmatic use of religious influence in complex diplomatic situations. For instance, Indian authorities turned to Aboobacker Musliyar, a religious leader, to halt the execution of an Indian nurse in Yemen when official channels failed. This incident underscores the state's utilization of religious actors to resolve international incidents indirectly when formal diplomatic mechanisms face limitations.
In post-Assad Syria, government institutions have coopted Sunni Muslim religious authorities and promoted Alawis to key leadership roles, while claiming to protect other minorities such as Christians and Druze. This strategy pressured religious minorities into outward support for the regime, demonstrating the use of religious legitimacy internally to bolster regime survival, which indirectly impacts foreign relations and U.S. policy considerations.
The United States has also recognized the growing influence of religious communities on public opinion and diplomacy. Initiatives like the Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative connect with religious leaders and thinkers to inform national foreign policy debates. This engagement reinforces the idea that religious communities can shape U.S. foreign policy strategies and outreach.
The U.S. actively supports the Dalai Lama and his succession plan as a form of religious freedom advocacy that doubles as a geopolitical strategy. This backing serves to undermine China’s efforts to install a CCP-controlled Dalai Lama and prevents authoritarian regimes from exploiting religious succession for political control.
In summary, religious diplomacy can serve as an intermediary, symbol, or legitimizing agent in foreign policy, helping to reduce conflict, facilitate negotiations, or bolster the political standing of regimes. However, the approach can carry risks, including controversy over church-state entanglements or manipulation of religious freedoms for political ends.
[1] References: [1] The Hindu. (2014, April 10). Catholic Church acts as intermediary in Enrica Lexie incident. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/catholic-church-acts-as-intermediary-in-enrica-lexie-incident/article6098436.ece [2] Human Rights Watch. (2016, October 24). Syria: Assad's Co-optation of Religious Authorities. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/24/syria-assads-co-optation-religious-authorities [3] Religion and Foreign Policy Program. (n.d.). The Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-religion-and-foreign-policy-initiative/ [4] Council on Foreign Relations. (2019, December 16). The U.S.-Tibet Relationship. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-tibet-relationship
- In response to the Enrica Lexie incident, the Catholic Church in India acted as an intermediary between the Indian government and the Philippine authorities, demonstrating the role of religion in diplomacy.
- Given the political and cultural significance of cricket in India, strategic decisions regarding cricket policies can indirectly impact general news, politics, and foreign relations.
- The Indian government, in its efforts to safeguard the general news narrative, occasionally employs religious leaders such as Aboobacker Musliyar as diplomatic resources in complex international scenarios where official channels may seem inadequate.
