Switzerland - The Graduate Institute, Geneva

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RELIGION AND DIPLOMACY
Address
1156 Fifteenth St., NW, Suite 910, Washington,
DC 20005
Phone 202-331-9404
Fax 202-872-9137
Web www.icrd.org
E-Mail postmaster@icrd.org
Category Dialogue (Research & Knowledge)
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of ICRD is to address identity-based conflicts that exceed the reach of traditional diplomacy by incorporating religion as
part of the solution. Regardless of one's spiritual persuasion, there are two compelling reasons why the Center's work is important:
(1) the need for more effective preventive measures to minimize the occasions in which we are forced to send our sons and
daughters in harm's way and (2) the need for a stable global environment to support the kind of economic growth that can benefit
an expanding percentage of the world's population. By linking religious reconciliation with official or unofficial diplomacy, ICRD has
created a new synergy for peacemaking that serves both of these needs. It also provides a more fruitful approach for dealing with
ethnic conflict, tribal warfare, and religious hostilities.
Founding year Not indicated.
BACKGROUND AND ACTIVITIES
• Research: various publications, among others: "Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik", a book that explores how the
peacemaking tenets of each of five different world religions can be strategically applied to conflicts in which those religions
are centrally involved. It also makes the case for incorporating religious considerations into the practice of international
politics.
• Sudan: In addition to working behind the scenes to help bring this about, ICRD undertook two complementary institutional
initiatives designed to ensure that once peace took hold, it would be lasting in nature.
• Kashmir: ICRD has been working for 4 years with next-generation leaders on the Indian and Pakistani sides of the Line of
Control (LOC) to promote "peace from within."
• Iran: Since 2003, ICRD took part in exchanges and meetings within Iran but also with Senators and Congressmen to make
them aware of the opportunities that exist for improving relations between Iran and the United States through religious
channels.
• Afghanistan: In partnership with the Washington-based Institute for Defense Analysis, ICRD conducted a series of policy
workshops for US and South Asian policymakers and advisors.
• United States: ICRD in partnership with the International Institute for Islamic Thought and the Institute for Defense
Analyses (the Pentagon's leading think tank) convened a conference to explore how the U.S. government and the American
Muslim community could begin working together for the common good.
• Update Oct. 2006: In Pakistan, the center organizes workshops on curriculum enhancement and pedagogical reform of
various groups of madrasas. The coverage includes involvements on three separate tracks: (1) in partnership with the
Institute for Policy Studies in Islamabad, the center is conducting workshops for moderate madrasas from all five of the
religious sects that sponsor these schools, (2) on an independent basis, the center is doing the same for the harder-line
Deobandi madrasas in Balochistan, and (3) most recently, it has become engaged on a similar basis with the harder-line
Wahhabi madrasas throughout the country. The latter two are particularly important in light of the impact their doctrine
has had on Islamic extremists. The Center is now seeking funding to support the Wahhabi initiative.
• Update Nov. 2006: Project Start in Syria: first faith-based reconciliation seminar which was co-sponsored with the
Damascus-based Center for Islamic Studies. The seminar, which was led by ICRD Senior Vice President Brian Cox, brought
12 Christians from the United States and the Middle East together with 18 Muslims from Syria.