ABSTRACT
In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, religion has often potentiated mass violence through the transcendent referents and moral sway of religious ideology, institutions, and authorities. Yet, the power of religion also has obviating potential and has been increasingly leveraged by government and non-government entities. One such attempt was the United Nations’ 2017 Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes—a product of global consultation with religious leaders. This chapter assesses the Plan of Action’s consultations, recommendations, reception, and potential consequences. The appraisal is based on how well the recommendations address the destructive nexuses between religion and genocide—“othering,” justification, and authorization—and is supplemented by two expert interviews. Although laudable, the Plan of Action is limited by an unclear consultation process with insufficient input from religion leaders. The Plan of Action title is also a misnomer. The document lacks specific, actionable guidance on combating unfolding incitements to violence; mostly targets non-religious actors; includes actions that are unrealistic, conflict with religious mores, and exceed the capacities of religious actors; and presents challenges for human rights frameworks that could impede the Plan’s implementation and support.
