ABSTRACT
The study of international relations (IR) is to a great extent based on a number of alternate and competing theories. Some IR theorists, especially those from the realist and structural realist schools argue that domestic politics are irrelevant to the relations between states, though many others disagree with this position. Accordingly, this chapter demonstrates that the same principles which can be used to aid understanding of religion's role in politics in the domestic arena can also be used to enable us to understand how it can influence international politics. There was no prediction of religion's demise in IR theory. Rather, scholars of IR simply ignored religion. Much of the discussion of religion and identity in IR focuses on conflict and alliances. Religious identity has also been linked to attitudes about foreign policy. Faith-based diplomacy argues that faith, as opposed to religion, should be an element of a country's foreign policy.
