Engaging Religious Communities Abroad: A New Imperative for U.S. Foreign Policy – The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Religion has been a major force in the daily lives of individuals and communities for millennia. Yet recent data show that the salience of religion is on the rise the world over. Once considered a “private” matter by Western policymakers, religion is now playing an increasingly influential role—both positive and negative—in the public sphere on many different levels. Religious actors are central players in local, national, and international life, from providing basic services in impoverished areas of the world to influencing larger social, economic, and political developments; shaping important international debates; and advancing the goals of peace, justice, and freedom