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Middle East and North Africa

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Explore the Berkley Center’s resources on the Middle East and North Africa, including case studies on religion and conflict in the region, extensive commentary on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and research on the nexus of Islam and politics.

Project Spotlight

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The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power

This project will explore the global impact of transnational religious propagation activities sponsored by several countries in the Middle East which for decades have deployed religion as a form of soft power in pursuit of their evolving foreign policy and other objectives.

Current and Past Projects

English Classroom at Jesuit Refugee Service Learning Center in Amman, Jordan

Fostering Community through Education in Jordan

During May and June 2016 Jonathan Thrall spent three weeks in Amman, Jordan as part of an ongoing initiative of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching, and Service at Georgetown…
Protestors in Egypt with Signs in Arabic

Religious Conflict and the Future of a Democratic Egypt

These essays consider what role religion should play in shaping Egyptian democracy, the importance of religious freedom to the stability of the state, the involvement of previously banned groups, and the policies that America should adopt towards states emerging from the Arab Spring.
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The Muslim World

As part of its global mapping of faith-inspired organizations in development work, the Berkley Center has held consultations and developed publications and web resources focused on the Muslim world.
Under Caesar's Sword

Under Caesar's Sword

In collaboration with the Center for Civil and Human Rights at the University of Notre Dame, the Religious Freedom Research Project has engaged in a three-year global research project that investigated how Christian communities respond when their religious freedom is severely violated.

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Interviews

Discover the firsthand experiences of faith leaders, activists, and peacebuilding practitioners working on issues ranging from development and education to conflict resolution and foreign policy.

For over a decade, Berkley Center scholars and students have been conducting interviews with individuals working at the intersection of religion and world affairs. These discussions offer unique insights into the inner workings of a wide spectrum of professions touched by religion with interviewees ranging from the highest levels of leadership of international organizations to on-the-ground practitioners. Explore individual interviews here or follow links to our interview collections below:

Recent Interviews

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Events

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Blog Posts

Mackenzie R. Poust Headshot

September 15, 2022

"Made" in Jordan: Assessing the Legacy of the Amman Message

With the twentieth anniversary of the Amman Message on the horizon, graduate student Mackenzie Poust traces the historical legacy of the document and examines the impact it has had on the political legitimacy of Jordan on the international stage.
Alice Kangabe Headshot

July 1, 2022

Religion and Friendships in Qatar

Alice Kangabe (SFS’25) reflects on how her study abroad experience in Qatar inspired her to pursue a deeper understanding of her personal faith as well as challenged her perceptions of friendship.

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Publications

Policy Brief March 31, 2022

Religion and COVID-19: Recommendations for Policy Action

In this Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy policy brief, authors Alexander Yendell, Oliver Hidalgo, and Carolin Hillenbrand provide an empirical overview of the beliefs and practices of religious groups and individuals actors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Publications

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