The project Reimagining Religion, Security and Social Transformationis part of the broader knowledge agenda of the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) programme.

As part of the JISRA Knowledge Agenda, this project will provide crucial input to the study of religion and security and to policy and practitioner efforts to address the role of religion in conflict, violence and social transformation processes. Within this project Utrecht University and the University of Groningen focus on the countries Nigeria, Kenya and Indonesia. Principal Investigators (PI's) of the project are Prof. dr. Beatrice de Graaf (UU) and Prof. dr. Erin Wilson (RuG).

The research conducted at Utrecht University aims at bringing religion back into the domain of conflict and political violence research, and does so by introducing a narrative approach. It focuses on the (religious) narratives employed by diverse religious actors related to the phenomenon of violent extremism. This concerns the perpetrators, governmental factions, victim communities and the broader society.Furthermore, The project will concentrate on CVE-processes (Countering Violent Extremism). Itwill identify,  and analyse the strategies utilised by religious leaders for intra and interreligious engagement to navigate the consequences of violent extremism and exclusion in their communities.

The research conducted at the University of Groningen will examine how religious actors approach discussion of the right to FoRB within their own communities (intra-religious), with other religious communities (inter-religious) and with other non-religious actors (extra-religious), including governmental (national and international) and civil society (national and international). In particular, the project focuses on how religious actors navigate the socio-political sensitivities associated with concepts, practices, and discourses such as “religion”, "belief", "freedom", and “human rights” in cross-cultural contexts. The researchers from both universities are working together, synthesizing the results into a report.

The Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) is a partnership of 50 civil society organisations based in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda (with supporting lobby and advocacy in Europe and the USA). Under the policy framework Power of Voices of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JISRA will implement a 5-year programme (2021-2025) to further peaceful and just societies where all enjoy Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB).

The JISRA consortium consists of Mensen met een Missie (lead organisation of the consortium), Search for Common Ground, Tearfund NL/UK and Faith to Action Network. For more information on the JISRA project, see the websites of the consortium partners. Tearfund, Mensen met een Missie, Search for Common Ground, Faith to Action Network.

• prof. dr. Beatrice de Graaf
• Myrthe van Groningen MA

• Prof. dr. Erin Wilson
• dr. Eva Krah