Religion and the State
By Fidel Amakye Owusu
1. The 30-year war between Catholics and Protestants in Europe gave birth to the modern nation-state.
2. The Treaty of Westphalia signed after 3 decades of bloodshed, ending in 1648, allowed states to choose the kind of sect they wanted. Essentially the state was recognized as the most important entity that regulated religion.
3. This was a departure from centuries of domination by the Church. It brought some relative peace to Europe concerning sectarian tensions.
4. The world over, (except the Vatican and maybe Afghanistan and Iran) states have significant control over religion and how it is run. Many states have used religion to advance the “national interest”
5. And so what?
6. The headline below was published by DW and other news agencies on Riyhad’s deportation of popular Nigerian cleric, Sheikh Gumi allegedly over his positions on geopolitical issues that involve Saudi Arabia and the greater Middle East.
7. While I will not go into the specifics of the cleric’s position, he is known to follow global issues and comment on them. He does not shy away from laying blame when he feels the need.
8. This notwithstanding, there has been some increasing level of criticism from many clerics in Africa and elsewhere about the foreign policies of the Gulf States, especially Saudi Arabia.
9. They have often pointed to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an example of what they consider to be “bad foreign policy” of Riyhad and other Gulf States. These clerics demand colder relations with Israel. Some have even called for a more aggressive approach.
10. More problematic for these states, the clerics have also criticized their domestic policies and reforms in recent times. To the clerics, Saudi Arabia, the host of the two holiest mosques in the Islamic world, must remain a conservative society. Yes, the leadership of the Wahhabi school of thought within the country may also support this idea. However, external clerics are becoming increasingly impatient with the Saudi government.
11. Yesterday, it was announced that Saudi Arabia will allow alcohol in 600 tourist locations as part of its decision to increase tourism and prepare for the 2034 World Cup. This will certainly unsettle many clerics and conservatives.
12. It is important for the clerics to accept that while a state may officially adopt a particular religion or sect, the state will remain different from the religion. This will make them appreciate the nuances in domestic and foreign policies in the region.
13. An appreciation of this fact will allow the clerics to know that many of the Gulf States see conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon as a function of Iran’s influence in the Middle East and not only as Israeli aggression.
14. To some of the monarchs, therefore, Iran poses more danger to their rule than Israel. Domestically, they want to diversify and modernize their economies. They want nothing to stop them.
15. Your ideas are welcome.
By Fidel Amakye Owusu – International Relations and Security Analyst and Writer
Article Reproduced with Permission from Fidel Amakye Owusu
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