Identity and Religion in Peace Processes

Karina V. Korostelina is a professor and director of Peace Lab at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University.Marc Gopin is a professor and director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University.Jeffrey W. Helsing is an associate professor and director of the Better Evidence Project at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University.Alpaslan Özerdem is a professor and the dean at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University.

• Introduction 1.The BRIDGE Model: The Role of Identity in Peace Processes 2. Radical Inclusion and Critique: Religion’s Complex Contribution to both War and Peace Processes 3. Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland 4. Apartheid in South Africa: The Role of Religion and Identity in Brokering Peace 5. Dynamics of Identity in the Angolan Civil War and Peace Process 6. A Peace Agreement in Colombia 7. Nigeria—Kaduna Peace Declaration and Yelwa Shendam Peace Affirmation 8. Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement: Termination of Africa’s Longest War 9. The Philippines-MNLF Peace Process 10. The Guatemalan Peace Process: Religion and Identity Elements 11. The 1997 Peace Agreement Between the Government of Bangladesh and the United People’s Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts 12. Serbia and Kosovo’s Dialogue for Peace 13. Sri Lanka: Failures of The Bi-Polar Conflict Resolution and ‘Victor’s Peace’ Reconstruction Modality 14. Complexities of Peace Processes in Ukraine Conclusion

'This innovative and important book argues that successful peace processes must transform relations between groups. It is the first comprehensive and systematic study of the role of identity and religion in peace processes, and it provides a compelling account of how the transition from enemies to neighbours can be achieved. The book combines theoretical sophistication with rich case studies and is a must-read for scholars, students, and policymakers with an interest in peace processes.'Nina Caspersen, University of York, UK 'Identity and Religion in Peace Processes is a much-needed contribution to debates on how and why some peace processes manage to transform relations between different groups in conflict and others do not. This book sharpens our focus on the role of identity and religion not just in conflicts, but in peace processes, and explores the approaches and mechanisms by which these were addressed, with varying levels of success, in a range of contemporary case studies. The insights this collection yields will be of great interest and value to scholars and peacemakers alike.'Jasmine-Kim Westendorf, La Trobe University, Australia'This book fills a critical gap with which our field has long struggled; the issue of religion in protracted conflicts. We have always known that religion is a central issue in many such conflicts, but we have not had a tool with which to approach it effectively in both practical and theoretical terms. The BRIDGE model introduced in this book gives us that tool. This is an important book.'Peter Jones, University of Ottawa