Description
Conflict mediation literature emphasizes inclusion in peace processes, recognizing that meaningful civil society engagement is essential to building the social consensus required for lasting agreements. It also outlines the psychological reactions of individuals in a post-conflict environment and how they respond to certain stimulus in negotiation settings. However, academic discourse lacks a comprehensive understanding of the unique role of religious actors in official peace processes. While there is considerable research on religion's impact on peacebuilding, the specific authority and influence of religious actors in formal negotiations remain underexplored, thereby underappreciating a unique point of authority. This paper explores the cognitive and evolutionary science of religion, which shows that religion can act as an adaptive mechanism to foster social cohesion, regulate cooperation, and manage conflict
. By embedding moral norms in emotionally powerful rituals and beliefs in supernatural punishment, religion enables large-scale cooperation beyond kin groups and helps maintain group identity. These same mechanisms can be used to both justify violence and facilitate reconciliation. Religious actors, therefore, play a central role in shaping group behavior and moral judgment, making their inclusion in peace processes essential for legitimacy and long-term sustainability. The paper will contribute to ongoing peacebuilding debates by offering a novel perspective and expanding the empirical understanding of religious actors’ impacts in conflict mediation settings.
