The Future of Faith-Driven Diplomacy: ICRD’s Commitment to Sustainable Peace

Religious identity is a powerful force that shapes communities and influences societal values. When harnessed constructively, it can unite and heal, but when manipulated, it can deepen divisions and fuel conflict. 

Understanding this delicate balance, Dr. Douglas Johnston, ICRD’s Founder and President Emeritus,  pioneered the integration of religion into diplomacy through his work, Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft. With support from President Jimmy Carter, a staunch advocate of faith-driven diplomacy who authored the foreword to Dr. Johnston’s book, ICRD was founded on the belief that engaging religious identity is essential to achieving sustainable peace. This vision continues to guide ICRD’s mission of addressing identity-driven conflicts through inclusive and transformative diplomacy and peacemaking processes.

Building on this foundation, ICRD tackles identity-driven grievances in complex conflicts, advancing research-informed and practical approaches to peace. From supporting humanitarian corridor negotiations to dialogue in active conflict zones to conducting field studies on the intersections of religion and identity, our work empowers communities to bridge divides, facilitate dialogue, and foster peacemaking toward reconciliation. As identity exploitation remains a key driver of instability, ICRD prioritizes innovative strategies that transform identity from a source of division into a powerful tool for peacebuilding.

Our mission has never been more urgent. Recent data from ACLED underscores a troubling rise in violence across regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The urgency for coordinated diplomacy and peacemaking efforts is especially clear in conflict zones, such as Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, and Myanmar, where destabilization is a critical reality. But what is driving so much turmoil?

• • Manipulation of identity: Ethnic, religious, or ideological identities are being exploited by conflict actors to consolidate power or suppress opposition, fueling deep divisions and unrest. 
  • The proliferation of non-state actors: Militant groups, militias, and terrorist organizations are increasingly dominating conflict landscapes, leveraging identity-based grievances to mobilize support and entrench instability.
  • Democratic backsliding: Reports from Freedom House reveal an erosion of democratic norms and a rise in authoritarianism. This trend exacerbates civil unrest and heightens the risk of violent repression, as marginalized communities demand recognition and rights in shrinking civic spaces.
  • Climate change: Resource scarcity, displacement, and environmental degradation intensify existing tensions and inflame identity-based grievances, adding complexity to modern conflicts.
  • Hybrid warfare: The blending of conventional and unconventional tactics—such as disinformation and cyberattacks—is increasingly shaping global conflicts.
  • Fractured geopolitics: Rising geopolitical competition, marked by rivalries between major powers and regional actors, is further escalating and weakening collective conflict resolution mechanisms, making it difficult to build consensus and address emerging crises effectively, and reversing peace gains. 
  • Fragmentation of global conflict management: Global institutions are struggling to respond effectively to growing conflict, making localized peacebuilding efforts and regional solutions more essential. While organizations like the African Union (AU), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and European Union (EU) are stepping up, sustained international collaboration moving above and beyond fractured geopolitics is crucial to supporting their progress.

In response to these challenges, ICRD is driving change through proactive engagement in regions where peacebuilding is most needed. We focus on the intersection of religion, diplomacy, and collaboration to develop practical, context-specific solutions to entrenched conflicts.

As authoritarianism and democratic backsliding deepen, we foster inclusive dialogue between marginalized communities, state, and geopolitical actors. In Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria, our approach builds trust and understanding among stakeholders while supporting innovative, context-specific sustainable peace programs. To ensure our interventions are data-driven and impactful, we learn from organizations like ACLED, the International Crisis Group (ICG), and Freedom House. Their findings provide crucial insights that help refine our strategies and inform our work. As hybrid warfare reshapes the security landscape, we stress the importance of locally informed, innovative solutions to mitigate its effects.

From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, we’re working to prevent climate-driven tensions from turning violent by facilitating dialogues on resource management. Faith communities are key partners in this work, offering their moral authority to promote environmental stewardship and peace. In the Middle East, where instability is rampant, faith communities are among the most trusted institutions. By empowering marginalized groups—especially women and youth—we’re amplifying voices that have long been silenced in peace processes. Through decades of on-the-ground work, we have built trust with local communities and collaborated with faith leaders to equip them with tools to mediate, reconcile, and drive transformative local change that bridges generational divides and creates lasting peace.

But there’s still much to do. Looking ahead, ICRD remains committed to advancing faith-driven diplomacy and strengthening partnerships. Over the next five years, we will continue empowering communities, supporting democratic resilience, addressing geopolitical-fueled conflict dynamics, and addressing the complex connections between climate change, identity, and conflict. ICRD, by building bridges across divides, remains steadfast in its mission to create a more peaceful, just, and collaborative world. We were made for times like these – join us.