Symposium: The Impact of Religion on Global Affairs

Religion is not only an important political and cultural force but in many respects, a defining element of political culture as the world approaches the 21st century.

This written symposium seeks to assess the magnitude and direction of religion’s influence and to examine actual and potential policy responses to religion. Nine experts from diverse fields - from academia to development - were asked to answer one of the two questions below.

1. 1. Is the world currently experiencing a surge in religious activity? If so, is it a trend likely to continue into the 21st century?

2. 2. How is religion likely to change the face of geopolitics in the 21st century? What are the policy implications of religion in global affairs?