ABSTRACT

This article examines the potential for Shiʿa clerics to engage in religious peacebuilding in post-2003 Iraq. By drawing upon theoretical insights from other post-conflict settings and interviews with clerics, I demonstrate that there are two key challenges facing clerics who seek to engage in peacebuilding. First, the association of the Shiʿa religious establishment with political actors has created a crisis of legitimacy for clerics. Secondly, the structure of authority within the religious establishment has made it difficult for activist clerics to introduce theological reforms to aid peacebuilding efforts. I argue that these challenges are neither insurmountable nor unique.

摘要

本文考察了什叶派神职人员在 2003 年后的伊拉克参与宗教和平建设的潜力。通过借鉴其他冲突后环境的理论见解和对神职人员的采访，我表明寻求参与建设和平的神职人员面临两个关键挑战。首先，什叶派宗教机构与政治行动者的联合造成了神职人员的合法性危机。其次，宗教机构内部的权威结构使激进的神职人员难以通过神学改革来帮助建设和平。我认为这些挑战既不是不可克服的，也不是独一无二的。