Source: e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 143
10 December, 2001

RELIGION AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN A TIME OF CONFLICT

We are in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan. The Hindu observance of Diwali was held a few weeks ago. The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, begins this weekend and will continue for eight days. In many parts of the world, homes and stores have taken on a festive air in preparation for Christmas. Earlier this week, Sikhs around the world celebrated the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, who laid the basis for the Sikh religion in the fifteenth century. This is a time for reflection, renewal and worship in many cultures. Thus, the timing of the escalation of conflict between Israel and Palestine is both tragic and ironic, as is the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

It is ironic as well that, most of the conflicts today - even those rooted in deep economic or social inequalities - seem to have a distinct religious angle. Religion has unparalleled mobilising power, to the extent that it sometimes can distract from the political, social and economic aspects of a conflict. This raises important questions for civil society activists. Is religious loyalty incompatible with greater citizen participation in public life? How is it that we find that citizens around the world, especially youth, are coming forward to assert their religious identity in the public arena in increasingly visible ways? Can the mobilising power of religion be used to focus attention on global poverty and related issues in a non-sectarian manner? Millions of voluntary religious organisations around the world are already engaging youth and older persons in community service and development work. How should secular and religious civil society organizations relate, such that it is not setback by outbreaks of violence or conflict? And finally, in what ways can we come together to explore means of pre-empting and preventing sectarian violence?

As a civil society practitioner, it is a struggle to stay optimistic when recent international events have demonstrated that war apparently weakens the need for citizen participation (except when called upon to demonstrate patriotism in a prescribed manner) and shrinks the civil liberties and space for civil society. To be sure, the indispensability of certain sections of civil society, especially humanitarian aid workers, during times of war is nevertheless widely acknowledged, as is the generosity of people across the United States to the families who lost loved ones on 11 September. Not surprisingly though, this is a time of heightened visibility for political and military elites. It is important to note overwhelmingly, with a few notable exceptions, these elites are men. Religious institutions too are overwhelmingly led by men.

As members of civil society, we must question how citizens everywhere fit into political crises or their resolution? When talks are being held to determine the future of a region at war, we do not as yet have mechanisms, which will guarantee that civil society perspectives are represented. In fact, despite progress on several social issues in the past century, there is still a high probability that when it comes to “grand” projects such as “nation building”, the most marginalised voices will continue to be under-represented or invisible. The round of talks held in Bonn this week to decide the future of post-conflict Afghanistan, brings only cautious and limited optimism at this difficult time. While some will say, “at least there where a few women there”, it must remain a cause for concern that it was mainly the men with guns, with dubious track records, that dominated the proceedings. Notwithstanding reservations about the lack of Aghani civil society’s input and the continuing marginalisation of women, we can only hope that this will lead to peace and ultimately justice for all Afghanistan’s people. As the interim executive council begins reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, all parties concerned should make a commitment to bring in civil society perspectives, including those of various women’s organisations, children’s rights activists, rural, pastoral as well as urban constituencies, and democracy activists.

Likewise, as the conflict intensifies in Israel and Palestine, we can only hope that reason prevails and that there is a return to meaningful peace talks that can provide security to the people of Israel and Palestine; and equally important a just political outcome that can meet the aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli people. Some of the most important strides made to work for peace and reconciliation within Israel have come from civil society groups, with many women in particular demonstrating amazing courage, strength and innovation. Palestinian NGOs continue to provide much needed basic services to people in need. Again, finding creative ways for civil society’s voice to be heard can only but assist the difficult journey to a sustainable and just peace in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, civil society activists have been toiling for decades to widen the space for citizen participation, in the hope that diverse perspectives will be considered in talks of war or peace. There is an opportunity and necessity for civil society activists around the world to reinforce these efforts to bring citizens’ voices to the forefront. Extending solidarity across our traditional bases or constituencies is mutually enriching and beneficial.

In this season of spiritual renewal for many people around the world, it is rather appropriate for us to come together as a human family determined not to yield to pessimism. This is a time for us to recognise our strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities, challenges and threats that lay before us, and to rededicate ourselves to building a just world, where people’s voices are genuinely respected.

Religious leaders of all persuasions must step forward and speak out against violence on women and children who suffer the most during war and conflict. They need to strongly support the involvement of civil society in public life and they need to be a voice of reason and calm calling for justice, peace and reconciliation. In particular, they need to recognize that full gender equality, is an indispensable part of building democracy, peace and justice.

The convergence of the various religious observances during this time is, something that does not happen all that regularly. It should be an encouragement to us all to embrace diversity and difference as a source of strength and humanity, and not a source of division and destruction. Secular civil society activists, many who do not embrace a particular religion but are deeply spiritual in their own way, and who express their spirituality in their service to humanity, are also challenged to build bridges, work for peace and reconciliation, while maintaining their steadfast commitment to social, political and economic justice for all the people on our planet.

Warm regards, Kumi Naidoo