Vision Series: Religion and Conflict Resolution in Africa: The Case of Nigeria
John Paden, Robinson Professor, International Affairs
Monday, April 2, 2012 7:00 PM EDT
Much of the current media coverage on Africa focuses on protracted conflicts, which often have an economic, political and/or ethno-religious base, as well as various external factors. While much of the current tension lies within ethno-religious zones, the mixed zones are of special interest, in part because of their wider significance in a world populated by approximately 1.3 billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims. The question is whether “religion” will provide an increasing excuse for conflict, or whether the Abrahamic monotheisms will figure out ways to cooperate and manage ethno-religious tensions. Within this context, the case of Nigeria—which is about half Muslim and half Christian—is of special importance. Dr. Paden’s talk will address the challenges of managing ethno-religious diversity in Africa and, more specifically, in Nigeria.
