Ebook
How do religious groups, operating as NGOs, engage in the most important global institution for world peace? What processes do they adopt? Is there a “spiritual” UN today? This book is the first interdisciplinary study to present extensive fieldwork results from an examination of the activity of religious groups at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. Based on a three and half-year study of activities in the United Nations system, it seeks to show how “religion” operates in both visible and invisible ways.
Jeremy Carrette, Hugh Miall, Verena Beittinger-Lee, Evelyn Bush and Sophie-Hélène Trigeaud, explore the way “religion” becomes a “chameleon” idea, appearing and disappearing, according to the diplomatic aims and ambitions. Part 1 documents the challenges of examining religion inside the UN, Part 2 explores the processes and actions of religious NGOs - from diplomacy to prayer - and the specific platforms of intervention – from committees to networks – and Part 3 provides a series of case studies of religious NGOs, including discussion of Islam, Catholicism and Hindu and Buddhist NGOs. The study concludes by examining the place of diplomats and their views of religious NGOs and reflects on the place of “religion” in the UN today. The study shows the complexity of “religion” inside one of the most fascinating global institutions of the world today.
The first interdisciplinary examination of the processes of contemporary religious NGO activity within the UN system in New York and Geneva.
Covers a wide range of religious traditions engaging in the UN processes, including Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist NGO groups
Provides the first fieldwork analysis of the living processes of religious NGOs rather than the political outcomes
Takes an interdisciplinary religious studies approach
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Religion, the United Nations and Institutional Process, Jeremy Carrette (University of Kent, UK)
1. Realism and Idealism: NGOs and the United Nations System, Hugh Miall (University of Kent, UK)
2. The Problem of Categories: Exploring Religion and NGOs Through Survey Research, Evelyn Bush (Fordham University, USA)
3. Representation, Accountability and Influence at the UN: Results from the Survey of Religious NGOs, Evelyn Bush (Fordham University, USA)
4. Religious NGOs, UN Participation and Fieldwork Methodology, Sophie-Hélène Trigeaud (Catholic Institute of Paris, France)
5. On and Behind the Scene: Religious NGO Processes at the OHCHR of the UN in Geneva, Sophie-Hélène Trigeaud (Catholic Institute of Paris, France)
6. Blessing or Bother? Religion and Religious NGOs at the UN in New York, Verena Beittinger-Lee (Independent Scholar)
7. Islam, The OIC and the Defamation of Religions Controversy, Verena Beittinger-Lee (Independent Scholar) & Hugh Miall (University of Kent, UK)
8. Catholicism at the United Nations in New York, Verena Beittinger-Lee (Independent Scholar)
9. Hindu and Buddhist NGOs and the United Nations, Jeremy Carrette (University of Kent, UK)
Conclusion: Diplomacy, State Power and Irrational Religion, Hugh Miall & Jeremy Carrette
Notes
Bibliography
Index
This book is well organized, with insights about codes of conduct and social norms at the UN, and reveals the potential and limits of RNGOs as political actors.
[The] volume stands as an important piece of work outlining an invaluable research and policy agenda for researchers, NGOs, and diplomats through its empirically grounded analysis of the role and impact of religious-affiliated NGOs within the UN system.
Good research answers -- and raises -- questions. This study provides empirical evidence of the interaction between religion, NGOs, and the United Nations, confirming hypotheses and providing answers. It also lays out a rich research and policy agenda for researchers, NGOs and diplomats.
Religious differences have always played a crucial role - if not always recognized - in shaping the socio-economic, humanitarian, peace keeping, and refugee policies of United Nations member states. I welcome this study that attempts to analyse the role and impact of religious-affiliated NGOs within the UN world.
This book, the first interdisciplinary examination of the processes of contemporary religious NGO activity at the United Nations, is a groundbreaking study of how 'religion' works in this crucial international forum. This well-researched and clearly argued book explains that to understand the activities of 'religious' NGOs at the UN, we need to see them as a crucial component of international civil society, using the UN as a focal point of activities in order to influence outcomes both at the UN and at the level of individual states.
This book presents the findings of a major research project, and offers new and unique insights about how faith-based groups operate in the context of the UN.
Jeremy Carette is Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Culture at the University of Kent, UK.
Hugh Miall is Emeritus Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent, UK.