Religion, Terror, and Error: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Challenge of Spiritual Engagement

by Douglas M. Johnston Jr.

How should the United States deal with the jihadist challenge and other religious imperatives that permeate today's geopolitical landscape? Religion, Terror, and Error: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Challenge of Spiritual Engagement argues that what's required is a longer-term strategy of cultural engagement, backed by a deeper understanding of how others view the world and what is important to them. The means by which that can be accomplished are the subject of this book. The work realizes three important tasks. It shows how the United States can reposition itself to deal more effectively with the causal factors that underlie religious extremism; offers a successor to the rational-actor model of decision-making that has heretofore excluded "irrational" factors like religion; and suggests a new paradigm for U.S. leadership in anticipation of tomorrow's multipolar world. Describing how the United States should realign itself to deal more effectively with the factors underlying religious extremism, this innovative treatise explains how existing capabilities can be redirected to respond to the challenge and identifies additional capabilities that will be needed to complete the task.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Religion, Terror, and Error: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Challenge of Spiritual Engagement by Douglas M. Johnston, Jr. is a brilliant book! It details changing the foreign policy paradigm of the United States. Mr. Johnston’s new outlook would discard the old school philosophy of rational actor and convert it to faith-based awareness diplomacy. This all-encompassing book contains key concepts, ideas and proven strategies which lay the groundwork for change.

Johnston’s description of differing perceptions among Americans and Muslims is phenomenal. The quote “when Americans say `secular’ Muslims hear “Godless” though what is intended is “freedom to worship as you please”” defines one of many groundbreaking ideas. We Americans need more self-awareness. Once obtained, communication will improve ten-fold with the global village. This will prevent conflicts and end economic sanctions.

His concepts include embracing: the “Children of Abraham” metaphor for inclusion, shifting from religious exclusion to one using faith based diplomatic channels, creating Religious Diplomatic attachés for understanding faith and culture, supporting organic suasion and tapping the American-Muslim community for more support and two way dialog.

The United States desperately needs to realign foreign policy to understand the religious rage and factors that create it. Communicating with our enemies through a philosophy of servant-leadership and respectful engagement is vital. These ideas lead us from the knee jerk military reactions (9/11, Iraq, etc) to the OODA Loop, mutual empathy, leading by example and not by force, as “…we do not understand faith and its life-shaping power”. Belief in empathy, justice, good will, and generosity of spirit is not mutually exclusive among Christianity, Islam or Judaism.

His strategies are a must read for present and future Presidents and Cabinet Members.

Finally, this foreign policy book which quotes Karen Armstrong, the Dalai Lama, and Sun Tzu to name a few is trailblazing. Again, a one-word review: BRILLIANT.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fair evaluation and approach to the key role of religion in foreign policy. Johnson's book is a must-read for those engaged in international work outside the West. Some of his proposed solutions are oversimplified and he sometimes even makes the mistake he identifies as such (the Rational Actor Model), but all in all thoughtful and thought provoking.