A Master’s thesis entitled “The Use of Religious Factor in Conflict Management and Peacebuilding after 2003: Selected Models” was discussed in the College of Political Science at the University of Baghdad, Department of International Studies, in Freedom (Al-Huriah) Hall on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The thesis was submitted by the master’s candidate Laith Jalil Hadi, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Haider Abdul-Kadhim Al-Alaq.
The viva committee consisted of:
• Professor Dr. Hussein Mezher Khalaf – University of Baghdad / College of Political Science – Chairman
• Assistant Professor Dr. Awrad Muhammad Malik – University of Baghdad / College of Political Science – Member
• Assistant Professor Dr. Majid Hamid Khudair – University of Nahrain / College of Political Science – Member
The thesis examined and analyzed the use of religious factor as an influential variable in conflict management and peacebuilding, by examining four international cases that witnessed intense conflicts after 2003: Nigeria, Mali, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iraq. The study sought to understand the mechanisms of using religion as a dual tool that can contribute to fueling conflicts or help calm them and build bridges of peace.
The researcher relied on comparative, analytical, and historical approaches to examine the nature of the roles played by religious institutions and spiritual leaders, both in escalating crises or in supporting national reconciliation efforts. The study concluded important results, demonstrating that while religion has been a tool for conflict in some contexts, local religious initiatives and individual and institutional efforts have contributed to transforming it into a supportive element for dialogue and peace, particularly in Bosnia and Iraq.
After an extensive scholarly discussion, the committee commended the thesis’s topic and methodological approach and recommended that the student be awarded a Master’s degree in Political Science, with a high grade of “Very Good.”
