S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana

My academic and practical work focuses on religion, violence, and peacebuilding from a multi-disciplinary perspective combining historical, theological, sociological, anthropological, and comparative political science perspectives. Viewing culture and religion as aspects of individual and group identity, which influence the causes, dynamics, and outcomes of conflicts, as well as the most appropriate intervention methods. These research interests began with my doctoral dissertation, which examined Islamic narratives of war and peace in the West Bank and Gaza and explored what factors influenced the interpretation of religious texts to support war or peace. It analyzed how religious beliefs, commitments, and traditions shape and influence concrete social action that promote either violent or peaceful behavior. It considered why a particular interpretation was becoming more legitimized among the Palestinians as a response to the conflict. Consequently, it addressed a series of novel topics, including religious and pragmatic motivations of behavior, legitimation of narratives and the role of interpretation of sacred texts during conflicts, among others.

In subsequent years, my research focused on the dynamics of ethno-religious identity conflicts and explored peace building strategies to address them. It investigated how local conceptions of peace -rooted in the religio-cultural traditions- and credible actors such as faith -based actors can be engaged as a resource for peacebuilding, and examined what are some of the best strategies to empower religious actors working towards peace within the context of religious extremism and religiously motivated violence. I have also examined the claims that peacebuilding, including religious peacebuilding, can be an effective transformation tool to create sustainable peace.

While this is a growing field, most of the findings, especially in the area of religion and peacebuilding, are anecdotal, as the field lacks strong evidence-based systematic methods and approaches to evaluate impacts and effectiveness. To address this weakness, I have worked on developing rigorous, systematic methods and approaches to evaluate the impact of these peacebuilding efforts. Combined with my extensive experience in evaluation of peace and development programming, my research asked: Are religious initiatives effective in addressing conflict drivers and facilitating building peace in religiously motivated conflicts and in responding to violent extremism? Are there different methodologies and criteria needed for evaluating religious peacebuilding programs as compared to secular ones and, if so, what are they? What are some of the best tools and methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives? In this respect I have conducted evaluations of peacebuilding programs for USAID, Catholic Relief Services, and International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, among others.

My current research investigates the intersection among religion, gender, and peacebuilding. I am currently working on an Islam and Negotiation Action Guide for Muslim Women. This Action Guide is designed as a practical tool to assist Muslim negotiators to more effectively organize, strategize and negotiate in contexts where Islam informs the negotiation process, participants’ worldviews and key issues. It aims to provide guidance on how prophetic examples, Islamic texts, principles, values, symbols, and rituals can be useful where religious values, beliefs, and practices play an important role in the negotiation process. This Action Guide also helps to aim non-Muslim negotiators who are involved in negotiations with Muslims or mediators who aim to facilitate negotiations where Islam informs the negotiation and mediation process to gain a better understanding of the central Islamic values, principles and practices that may play a role in the process.

Another project I am working on explores the role of women in violence and peacebuilding in the Muslim world. Recognizing that individuals have multiple, layered and dynamic identities that are mutually constitutive, this research examines how the intersection of religion and gender influences Muslim women’s experiences in regards to violence and conflict and their responses to that. Going beyond the stereotypical images of Muslim women, it aims to investigate how the intersection of multiple identities such as gender, religion, race, ethnicity, class, among others, and particular historical and structural conditions of each context result in different experiences of discrimination or empowerment and opportunity and how these experiences influence victimization and recruitment of women by violent extremist organizations as well as creating space for women to become credible and effective actors in peacebuilding and conflict resolution in their communities. This research is based on my previous work on the understudied theme of “Muslim Women Peacemakers” as well as my recent collaborative work with various nongovernmental organizations, including Muslim women’s organizations or governmental organizations and think-tanks.

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