Inspirational, Inhibiting, Institutionalized: Exploring the links between Religions and Development

Abstract

This paper is a first attempt to synthesize the findings from the overall Religions and Development research programme, and to identify possible implications for policy and practice. Three main sections focus on the core RaD research questions. Section 2 explores how people's religious values and beliefs reflect their perceptions of some concepts and issues relevant to development policy. Section 3 explores how religion interacts with politics and governance and identifies some implications for good governance, pro-poor policymaking, achieving progressive legislative change and tackling religious civil conflict. Section 4 examines the characteristics of 'faith-based organizations', the role they play in welfare and service provision, and how this affects other development actors working to achieve development objectives. The report also contains an introductory section, and an final section drawing out overall conclusions and policy implications.

Citation

Working Paper No. 66, Religions and Development Research Programme, University of Birmingham, UK, ISBN 978-0-7044-2882-9, 102 pp.

Inspirational, Inhibiting, Institutionalized: Exploring the links between Religions and Development

Published 1 January 2011