Strategic Opportunities does Religious Engagement Create

"WHICH STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES DOES RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT CREATE FOR FOREIGN-POLICY MAKERS"
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"Which Strategic Opportunities Does Religious Engagement Create For Foreign-Policy Makers"
Introduction
Research shows that a country's foreign policies are its formal stance on various issues that ultimately affect its relationship with other countries at economic, political, military, and social levels (Warner and Walker, 2011 p. 114). However, the role of religion in framing foreign policies related to international relations has always been both crucial and controversial. Scholars are divided on whether adherence to religious doctrines would provide opportunities to safeguard universal human rights or further aggravate violation and suppression of human rights. Despite the difference in opinions among scholars regarding the role of religion in foreign policy, real-life examples of the establishment of religion-based foreign policies do exist. For instance, American president Eisenhower successfully launched a cold war doctrine based on the notion of the fight of God against communist atheism. He successfully integrated ideologies of various faiths to deal with the communist threat to the free world (Warner and Walker, 2011 p. 113). Since religion is one of the most significant aspects of human societies and plays a vital role in shaping public and individual opinions, it is imperative to understand the extent of the role of religion in the making of successful and friendly foreign policies. This essay, therefore, aims to discuss various approaches of integration of religion in foreign policy and analyze the pros and cons of each approach. Finally, this essay analyzes two examples of integration of religion in foreign policy to understand the significance and impact of religion on the foreign policy of a country and estimate the extent of strategic opportunities that religion can provide for foreign policymakers.
Role of Religion in Shaping Foreign Policies
According to one scholar, religion and religious ideologies can significantly affect a country's foreign policies and, in turn, its international relations by influencing its domestic policies. In countries such as Iran, the USA, and India, the role of the "soft power" that religion wields to influence foreign policy is indispensable. Research finds that the establishment of illogical and inconsistent foreign policies of several countries may be attributed to the influence of prevalent norms and customs of their societies (Haynes, 2008 p. 144). In several countries, religious traditions and pressure groups have successfully moulded the foreign policy to cater to their demands and ideologies. For instance, in the United States, evangelist groups vehemently opposed the decision of funding other countries for the promotion of abortion and contraceptives, and this instance is more than enough to estimate the role of faith in influencing even governments as liberal as the United States (Haynes, 2008 p. 145).
Likewise, compelled by the devastation conducted by Muslim extremists and instigated by the anti-Muslim fervour, president George W. Bush used the religious card to frame his foreign policy...