The Impact of Religion on International Relations: a Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

The study focused on the impact of religion of international relations in Kenya. The main areas explored were international relations issues and challenges, the perspective of international relation scholars on religion and the impact of religion on international relations. The study was explanatory. The study focused mainly on secondary data. That is books, journals and research that has been done by various scholars in the field of international relations and religious studies. In the area of international relations issues and challenges the main focus was on globalization, terrorism, media and culture. The perspective of international relation scholars on religion aimed at looking at what social scientists, policy makers and various scholars view are on religion. The study established that religion has been overlooked as an element in international relations. The study show that religion has multiple influences on international relations including influencing the world views of leaders and constituents, to bestow legitimacy, terrorism, human rights, foreign policy and even opposing certain practices. Religion is on the rise. There is an increase in the number of groups described as religious and their actions are motivated by ideas animated by religion which has influence on outcomes war, terrorism, human rights, foreign policy, and peace settlement. Therefore religion could provide a universal understanding of the aspirations of different identity