Welche Rolle spielt Religion in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit?

Religion wurde in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit lange Zeit als Hindernis gesehen. Erst in jüngster Zeit begannen sich säkulare Entwicklungsorganisationen, wie zb. die Weltbank, für religiöse Faktoren in ihrer Arbeit zu interessieren. Neuerdings werden auch nicht-materielle Ziele anvisiert und religiöse Akteure werden gar zu wichtigen Stakeholdern in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Das ZRWP-Forschungskolleg 2015/2016, das im März 2015 seine Arbeit unter dem Titel „Religion and Development in the Gobal South“ aufnahm, setzt sich damit auseinander. Das Forschungskolleg wird von Prof. Dr. Heuser (Extraordinarius für Ausseuropäisches Christentum, Universität Basel) und Prof. Dr. Jens Köhrsen (Assistenzprofessor für Religion und Wirtschaft, Universität Basel) geleitet und in englischer Sprache durchgeführt. Es zeichnet sich nicht nur durch eine Global South Perspektive aus, sondern auch dadurch, dass es international und interdisziplinär besetzt ist.

Dena Freeman
„Advocating for Justice: How Evangelicals address Structural Issues Regarding Poverty and Development“

This research will explore the way in which Evangelical Christians approach development advocacy and how they perceive the need for, and the challenges of, their work. It will focus on the Micah Challenge, a global network of Evangelical organizations trying to use advocacy around the Millennium Development Goals  to bring about development outcomes. In particular it will seek to understand the tensions experienced by Evangelical organizations as they move between individual-focused ‘integral mission’ and structurally-focused ‘development advocacy’. 


Jeff Haynes
„World Vision and the Sustainable Development Goals“

The relationship of faith-based organisations (FBO) with development is  both controversial and topical, with attention paid both to the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030). The research looks at a major development-focused FBO, World Vision International. Specifically, it is concerned with World Vision's role in the creation and development of global development aims and objectives.


Claudia Hoffmann
„From Missionaries to Ecumenical Co-Workers. A Case Study from Mission 21 in Kalimantan, Indonesia.“

The aim of this project is to show the development from a purely missionary agency to a faith based organisation, which sees their key tasks not only in theological and cultural exchange, but also in reduction of poverty, health care, agriculture, fair trade, education, women and gender, and the advancement of peace. How does Mission 21 understand development and how did this understanding change over time? I will answer these questions by conducting an accurate analysis on the projects and on the programmes of Mission 21 in Kalimantan since the Seventies.


Sinah Kloß
„Religion, Inter-ethnic Conflict, and Concepts of ‘Development’ in Guyana“


Ethnic and religious identities are interrelated and cannot be considered as distinct in the multi-religious and multi-ethnic society of Guyana. These identities, processes of ethnopoliticization, as well as inter-ethnic tensions influence local definitions of ‘development,’ which vary among the various social actors. This project analyzes and compares conceptualizations of development in two Guyanese faith-based organizations, approaches the local opposition of spirituality and religion, and discusses the perceived challenges of ethnic reconciliation, which these actors consider necessary for nation-building and ‘development.’


Christine Schliesser
„The triadic relationship of religion, development and conflict resolution. A case study of the Presbyterian Church in Post-Genocide Rwanda"

With the MDGs and the succeeding SDGs focusing primarily on alleviating hunger, child mortality or education, the very foundation of sustainable development tends to become neglected: peace. This project explores the relationship between religion, development and conflict resolution in post-genocide Rwanda. There, religious actors such as the Presbyterian Church play a pivotal role by offering resources in reconciliation and conflict resolution, thus laying the ground work for development.

Vgl. auch:
http://www.zrwp.ch/fellows2015_16.htm