Faith, Freedom, and Foreign Policy

The 2014-15 Transatlantic Academy fellows considered a number of key questions associated with the interrelations of religion, liberal order, and foreign policy in the transatlantic community and its wider neighborhood. How deep is the transatlantic gap on religion and what are the policy implications? How secular is Europe and how does secularism vary from country to country? How should liberal societies engage with religious actors? How can liberal societies respond to violent acts committed in the name of religion? What is the role of Islam in the evolving transatlantic community, where Muslim minorities are playing an increasing role in public life? How should policymakers deal with the phenomenon of citizens of Western countries drawn to violent extremism associated with radical Islam? What is the future of Turkey’s geopolitical and cultural orientation, with what implications for its partnerships with Europe and the United States? What is the significance of the Russian government’s alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church and Russia’s support of illiberal and anti-EU political forces inside and outside of the EU?

 

The individually authored chapters of the report cover a wide range of topics and offer a number of suggestions and recommendations about understanding and managing the role of religion in politics and its relationship with the liberal order.