The religious factor in foreign policy in the age of the postsecular turn

Kang-Hyun Kim; Jun-Ki Chung

The religious factor in foreign policy in the age of the postsecular turn

Abstract

The relevance of this study stems from the growing role of religion in international relations, particularly amid crises, armed conflicts, and struggles for hegemony in regions with predominantly Muslim populations. Religion has increasingly functioned not only as a cultural marker but also as a tool for political mobilisation, legitimisation of foreign policy, and the formation of strategic alliances. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms, forms, and consequences of the instrumentalisation of religion in the foreign policy strategies of two countries – Turkey and Syria – taking into account the political context, historical background, and geopolitical environment. The study was based on historical-genetic, comparative political, discourse-analytical methods, and a systems approach. It was found that between the 2000s and 2010s, Turkey gradually moved away from a secular political model, systematically incorporating religious discourse into its soft power instruments, public diplomacy, and humanitarian initiatives. The institutional restructuring of the Diyanet, religion-oriented educational and media projects, and Turkey’s positioning as a leader of the Muslim world all indicated a systematic shift in policy. In contrast, Syria’s instrumentalisation of religion was driven by internal crisis, armed conflict, and the need to consolidate loyalist groups. Religion served as a resource for forming a confessional alliance with Iran and Hezbollah and as a tool to counter Salafi extremism. The study confirmed that in both cases, religion played not only a rhetorical but also a structural role in foreign policy. The findings are of value for religious diplomacy and the assessment of the risks of confessional escalation

Keywords

globalisation; confessional mobilisation; cultural diplomacy; soft power; diplomacy

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Suggested citation

Kim, K.-H., & Chung, J.-K. (2025). The religious factor in foreign policy in the age of the postsecular turn. Foreign Affairs, 35(3), 41-53. https://doi.org/10.59214/2663-2675.35(3).2025.41