Diplomatic Leadership Development after the “Weaponization of Everything”: Approaching Religion or Belief as a Professional Competence

Abstract

This article describes new education and research work with government departments and major NGOs to develop fresh approaches and paradigms of leadership learning about religion and security for those engaged full time in global politics, diplomacy, and policy. Drawing from research in seven countries, it proposes a move away from an embrace of specialist “religious literacy” education advocated by high-profile religious actors. Instead, this article proposes the opportunity for leadership development which assesses religion or belief as a generic evidence-based core professional diplomatic competence worthy of serious attention no more nor less important than any other professional field. As a first step in that goal, it delineates a new open-source tool entitled the Religion for International Engagement Matrix and describes its positive reception when trialed, including with two foreign ministries.