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International Reports 12/2010


Christians in China – Expansion and Limitation of Churches | Under Muslime Rule – On the Political and Social Situation of Egyptian Christians | Christians in Israel – A Complex Question of Identity | The Role and Influence of Christians in the Palestinian Territories | On Syrian Politics and its Christian Minority | The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region – An African CSCE?

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Content

  • Editorial

    Neither the secularization nor the modernization of society have suppressed religion. People turn to religion for guidance. In many parts of the world, religions are experiencing a “resurgence.” Christianity is currently the fastest growing religion. More than two billion people declare themselves followers of Christ – and this number is increasing. However, investigations have shown that Christianity is not just the fastest growing religion, but it is also the one that is most under threat.

    by Gerhard Wahlers

  • Christians in China – Expansion and Limitation of Churches

    Only a decade ago in China any sort of religious activities was viewed with suspicion. Ten years on, churches are now accessible to everybody and Christian Churches appeal to young Chinese in particular. Being a Christian in China is no longer a stigma. Nevertheless, Christian communities still have to bow to restrictions in the People’s Republic, for reasons of historical experiences and a fundamentally different understanding of religious freedom.

    by Britta Schmitz

  • Under Muslime Rule – On the Political and Social Situation of Egyptian Christians

    The murders in Nag Hammadi in 2010 drew the attention of Egypt and the international community to the steadily worsening relationship between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority in the country. Human rights organizations, governments, and international organizations criticize the dwindling religious freedoms in Egypt, denouncing the increased number of violent assaults and systematic discrimination of Christians. What are the causes and reasons for this development?

    by Andreas Jacobs

  • Christians in Israel – A Complex Question of Identity

    Christians in Israel are mainly Arabs who are Israeli citizens, which gives them complex identity issues and different points of reference. Although their religious freedom is guaranteed, local Christian Arabs are faced with two challenges. On the one hand they are part of the Arab sector in Israel and hence bound up in the tense and complex relations between the Jewish majority and Arab minority. Secondly, as Christians they are a minority within the Arab sector and exposed to increasing socio-economic and religious pressure from the Muslim majority.

    by Lars Hänsel

  • The Role and Influence of Christians in the Palestinian Territories

    The Palestinian Territories are the cradle of Christianity. But the days are long gone since the Christians were the dominant force in the region. For many years now the Palestinian Territories have had an overwhelming Muslim majority – and more and more Christians are leaving. Ignored by the world community, there is a creeping loss of Christian identity within the Palestinian Territories.

    by Felix Dane, Jörg Knocha

  • On Syrian Politics and its Christian Minority

    Foreign Affairs, Domestic Affairs and the situation of the Christian minority – this article aims at discussing all three issues, thereby showing whether and how the character of Syrian foreign, domestic and religious policy simultaneously differ from as well as correspond with each other. Thereby, the focus will be on religious as well as foreign affairs. However, the issue of domestic politics is dealt with only briefly and mainly in light of links and (dis)similarities with the two other areas.

    by Martin Beck, Lea Johanna Collet

  • The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region – An African CSCE?

    A glimpse at the political situation in the Great Lakes Region of Africa shows no sign of stabilization any time soon. There is an institution in the region that has taken up the cause of achieving lasting peace: The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), an institutionalized conference initiated by the international community. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) is often cited as being a prototype of the ICGLR.

    by Charlotte Heyl

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About this series

International Reports (IR) is the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's periodical on international politics. It offers political analyses by our experts in Berlin and from more than 100 offices across all regions of the world. Contributions by named authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial team.

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Editor

Dr. Gerhard Wahlers

ISBN

0177-7521

Benjamin Gaul

Benjamin Gaul

Head of the Department International Reports and Communication

benjamin.gaul@kas.de +49 30 26996 3584

Dr. Sören Soika

Dr

Editor-in-Chief International Reports (Ai)

soeren.soika@kas.de +49 30 26996 3388

Rana Taskoparan

Rana Taskoparan

Referentin Kommunikation und Vermarktung

rana.taskoparan@kas.de +49 30 26 996 3623

Fabian Wagener

Fabian Wagener

Desk Officer for Multimedia

fabian.wagener@kas.de +49 30-26996-3943