Conference theme
Recent research from the political sciences suggests a high correlation between religious rhetoric and violence, implying that religious conflicts are more violent than non-religious conflicts. Conversely, the conflicts following the Arab Spring led to a significant increase in the percentage of the population describing itself as ‘non-religious’, possibly suggesting a turn to secularisation following religiously motivated uprisings. The topic of religion and conflict is of interest not only to political sciences, but also to areas of law dealing with religion or conflict, or both. Religion or conflicts are studied from the perspective of public international law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, human rights law, and criminology, among others. Yet, the examination of religion and law in its combination is generally under-researched.
How does law deal, or should deal with religion?
The question arises how law deals or should deal with religion, especially in times of seemingly ever increasing nationalism and populism, often stirring up anti-Muslim (or other religions) sentiments. Is positively framed law the right tool to deal with religious matters that are of an inherently spiritual nature? And, how do domestic or international courts interpret the law when confronted with religiously motivated violent acts?
Submission of abstracts
We invite academics and practitioners to submit their abstracts, addressing issues such as:
- Definitions of religion in different legal regimes
- Ideological, legal, conceptual or normative analyses of religion and conflict
- Comparative analyses of jurisprudence on religion in conflict
- Religion as an argument to enter an armed conflict
- The role of religion in post-conflict transitional justice processes
- Religious groups as protected victim groups in international criminal law
- Human rights violations originating in religious practices
- The role of law in mediating between religious groups in a conflict
- The role of (religious) identity in conflicts
- Religious connotations of the concept of a ‘European identity’
- Religious hate speech in conflict
- The role of law in anti-religiously fuelled populism
- The connection of religious law (e.g. Islamic law) with secular law in statutes of hybrid or international(ized) statutes of (criminal) courts
Religion and conflict is a topic that is studied across several disciplines. We therefore encourage interdisciplinary approaches, combining law with, for example, political sciences, history, anthropology, sociology, peace and conflict studies, human geography or religious sciences.
An effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the event
Climate change and sustainability are one of the core focal areas in the strategy of the University of Oslo. Aviation has a disproportionate negative impact on the climate - and academics, as a group, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to frequent travels to conferences, seminars, and workshops. This conference therefore encourages the use of alternative means of transport, where possible. Furthermore, the conference will use technology to enable participation for presenters from abroad. The conference will be streamed online in order to reach a broader audience. Social media will be used, so as to eventually enable viewers and listeners to interact with panelists.
Timeframe and deadline
- 31 January 2020: Deadline for the submission of abstracts, maximum 350 words and a short 1 page resume/bio.
- 15 February 2020: Information on acceptance or rejection.
- 15 March 2020: Deadline for submitting a 5,000 word draft paper.
- 2 April 2020: Conference.
Papers will be accepted based on their scientific quality, relevance for the topic of the conference and the overall coherence of the conference program. There is no participation fee. However, participants whose paper is accepted, are expected to cover their own expenses for travel and accommodation.
Submit abstract
Please submit your abstract through this online form, indicating whether you would prefer to present at the conference in person or by means of video technology. Abstracts submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Organizing committee for the conference
Gentian Zyberi, Professor of International Law and Human Rights, Head of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo.
Carola Lingaas, Associate Professor of Law, VID Specialized University, Oslo Faculty of Social Studies.