How should one intervene in a conflict when religious components come into play? Long ignored or underestimated, hate preaching and spiritual justifications for taking up arms are now attracting the interest of researchers and practitioners.
With a view to dismantling some of the clichés that associate religion with conflict, “A vue d’esprit” looks at the resolution of conflicts with a religious dimension (12–16 November 2012).
How should one intervene in a conflict when religious components come into play? Long ignored or underestimated, hate preaching and spiritual justifications for taking up arms are now attracting the interest of researchers and practitioners.
With a view to dismantling some of the clichés that associate religion with conflict, “A vue d’esprit” looks at the resolution of conflicts with a religious dimension (12–16 November 2012).
Episode 1 of 5 : On religion and politics
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In many parts of the world, religious discourse defines worldviews of which political choices are the natural extension. The “Arab Spring” is the most recent major example.
With Jean-Nicolas Bitter, a specialist in these questions and head of the Religion, Politics, Conflict (RPC) section of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. In this episode, he lays the foundations of his work, defines the features of certain contexts of intervention and introduces the actors he works with.
Source: A vue d’esprit du 12.11.2012 (external website, opens in a new tab) · RTS
Episode 2 of 5 : How to help resolve conflicts
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Continuing his conversation with “A vue d’esprit”, Jean-Nicolas Bitter, a diplomat and conflict-resolution specialist, describes Switzerland’s good offices.
Building on the legendary neutrality of the home country of international institutions, methods of dialogue and of bringing the protagonists of conflicts into contact seek to make the most of spaces for dialogue. The aim is to initiate political solutions rather than recourse to arms, even, and especially, with the most radical.
Source: A vue d’esprit du 13.11.2012 (external website, opens in a new tab) · RTS
Episode 3 of 5 : Pitfalls and pathways
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Taking the example of a dialogue aimed at resolving a religious tension in Lebanon, Jean-Nicolas Bitter looks at the hardening front between believers and agnostics or atheists.
Recalling the various “Prophet cartoon affairs”, we discuss the theme of defamation of religion and the heightened sensitivities in this area.
Source: A vue d’esprit du 14.11.2012 (external website, opens in a new tab) · RTS
Episode 4 of 5 : The Islam of peace and the Islam of arms
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As head of the Cordoba Foundation of Geneva, Abbas Aroua is committed to making known, and putting into practice, the peaceful dimension of his religion, Islam.
With Florence Laufer, project officer at the foundation, we discuss a seminar for Salafist groups held in Tunisia last September. The entry into politics of these groups, with their very rigid religious contours, raises new questions and major challenges.
Source: A vue d’esprit du 15.11.2012 (external website, opens in a new tab) · RTS
Episode 5 of 5 : Changing people to change the world
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The NGO Initiatives of Change, based in Caux in the hills above Montreux, has developed an original methodology to help bring influential actors in the world’s troubled regions to peace. Its idea, inspired by 19th-century English revivalism, is a belief in the possibility of human change.
Armed with “success stories” and a particular way of encouraging reflection, a shift in perspective and dialogue, this NGO makes its way among the world’s powerful to contribute, in its own way, to resolving conflict situations. A conversation with Andrew Stallybrass, its communications officer, and Rainer Gude, a project officer.
Source: A vue d’esprit du 16.11.2012 (external website, opens in a new tab) · RTS
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