The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs

Berkley Center-Pulitzer Center International Reporting Fellow Claudia Amendoeira (SFS'25) will use her reporting to answer the question: What explains the connection between religion and violence in Brazil? She is also covering efforts to preserve Afro-Brazilian faiths.

Please welcome the Pulitzer Center’s 2024 Campus Consortium Reporting Fellows! These 46 Fellows will cover some of the most critical and underreported stories in today’s world, including migration, global health, and climate solutions.

“This year’s Fellows are covering such a wide range of subjects, from campus protests in the U.S. to the impact of flooding in India, desertification in Mongolia, and oil disputes in Guyana. The passion they share for their reporting projects is contagious,” says Kem Sawyer, outgoing Reporting Fellow Program Director.

Every year, the Pulitzer Center awards fellowships to students at our Campus Consortium partner schools. These include liberal arts colleges, community colleges, state universities, historically Black colleges and universities, and graduate schools of journalism and public health in the U.S., Canada, and Qatar.

Learn more about our newest Reporting Fellows and their projects!
👉 https://bit.ly/RprtingF24

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 24 -

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 24

Senior Fellow Katherine Marshall participated in this conference and spoke as part of the panel on "Religious freedom and global development."

More information on the panels and participants: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/religious-freedom-and-integral-human-development-a-new-global-platform/

Conference calls for new global platform for religious freedom - Vatican News The Sovereign Order of Malta promotes a high-level conference focussed on religious freedom and integral human development to explore innovative ...

“When we look at support for democratic processes in Muslim-majority countries, it’s difficult to argue that this is a priority for U.S. policymakers.” H.A. Hellyer, scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (USA) and senior associate fellow in international security studies at the RUSI - Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (UK), assesses the legacy of the “New Beginning” speech, arguing that while there were positive outcomes of the Obama presidency, it is difficult to find a long-lasting affirmative impact on foreign affairs on the .

Obama’s Cairo Speech: A Legacy of No Legacies H.A. Hellyer assesses the legacy of the "New Beginning" speech, arguing that while there were positive outcomes of the Obama presidency, it is difficult to find a long-lasting affirmative impact on foreign affairs.

“For those of us working to make U.S. diplomacy more attentive to religion, the Cairo speech was a godsend.” Judd Birdsall, senior fellow at The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, discusses the short-lived and longer-lasting successes of Obama’s Cairo speech in terms of foreign policy and geopolitical relations with the Muslim world on the .

Obama’s "New Beginning" Was a Letdown—and a Godsend Judd Birdsall reflects on the short-lived and longer-lasting successes of Obama's "A New Beginning Speech" in terms of foreign policy and geopolitical relations with the Muslim world.

“The past 15 years—and the past seven months—suggest that the United States has rather used too much power and did not achieve much greatness.” Mustafa Akyol, senior fellow at the The Cato Institute Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, discusses how Obama’s Cairo speech did not really initiate much of a “new beginning” between the United States and the Muslim world on the .

Obama’s "New Beginning" Has not Begun Yet Mustafa Akyol discusses how while the "New Beginning" speech had many good points that make it notable, if not inspiring, to read after fifteen years, it did not really initiate much of a “new beginning” between the United States and the Muslim world.

“Nevertheless, for me as a Muslim serving in the administration at the time, there was an optimism in that moment that was collected in the speech.” Afeefa Syeed, research associate with the Cambridge Institute on Religion and Global Affairs, reflects on the Cairo speech’s ripples of action within the U.S. government on the .

New Beginnings for Continued New Possibilities: Reflections from a Muslim Official Involved in Implementing the Cairo Speech Afeefa Syeed reflects on her experience in the implementation of President Obama's "A New Beginning Speech," sharing how the optimism in that moment and the ripples of action within the U.S. government created the possibility of engaging in a different and better way.

“In this era where conspiracies are increasingly influential…we can each make choices to shed more light than heat.” Rob Lalka, Albert R. Lepage Professor in Business at Tulane University, examines how capitalism and democracy benefit from transparency, decency, and accountability in the context of Obama’s “New Beginning” speech on the .

Lies, Damned Lies, and Startups: Reexamining America’s Promotion of Democracy, Entrepreneurship, and Technology in Muslim Communities Rob Lalka examines how capitalism and democracy benefit from transparency, decency, and accountability in the context of the anniversary of President Obama's "New Beginning Speech."

“Should we really be thinking and talking about a ‘Muslim world’? And if not, how do we ‘move on’?” Katherine Marshall, senior fellow at The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, unpacks her "worried optimism" surrounding the legacies of the "New Beginning" speech, suggesting that we need a solid commitment both to positive achievements and to forthright willingness to address tensions and complexities on the .

Engaging Muslim Communities: Challenging Journeys Katherine Marshall unpacks her "worried optimism" surrounding the legacies of the "New Beginning" speech, suggesting that we need a solid commitment both to positive achievements and to forthright willingness to address tensions and complexities.

On June 4, 2009, President Barack Obama delivered his “A New Beginning” speech to the global Muslim community in Cairo, Egypt. The speech’s fifteenth anniversary comes at a moment of renewed conflict in the Middle East and of intensified criticism of U.S. foreign policy among many Muslims at home and abroad. The contributions in this series reflect on the lessons and legacies of the speech. https://buff.ly/3yOwjw4

“Preserving the goodness of the United States and overcoming the multitudinous divisions affecting nearly every area of society will require a diverse cohort.” Fr. Aaron Wessman, vicar general and the director of formation for the Glenmary Home Missioners, outlines why “conservative-minded” people should be animated to engage the task of building bridges to those who see the world differently.

“Conservative” Reasons for Building Bridges Fr. Aaron Wessman outlines why “conservative-minded” people should be animated to engage the task of building bridges to those who see the world differently.

“The countercultural challenge becomes holding open an embrace wide enough to accommodate internal ideological diversity among believers, quite independent of identity politics and sectarian loyalties.” Rev. Dr. Kelly Murphy Mason, community minister for spiritual direction at Arlington Street Church, examines the moral project of democracy and how we can transcend difference.

Us in the Absence of a Them The Rev. Dr. Kelly Murphy Mason examines the moral project of democracy and the countercultural challenge of holding open an embrace wide enough to accommodate internal ideological diversity among believers, independent of identity politics and sectarian loyalties.

“The first act of courage may be simply making it known that we are seeking such an encounter.” Our current moment is fraught with epistemic bubbles and echo chambers, especially in the context of the 2024 campaign season. The contributions in this forum respond to Greg Erlandson’s reflection on how members of and leaders in the Catholic Church can overcome polarization, de-escalate violent rhetoric, and build foundational trust across a variety of differences.

The Church's Mission in a Polarizing World: Finding Spaces for Surmounting Our Divisions In the context of the 2024 presidential election season, Greg Erlandson reflects on how members of and leaders in the Catholic Church can overcome polarization.

As the global climate crisis intensifies, the mobilization of faith communities around environmental issues is growing in importance. How can religious communities close the gap between values and impact in practice?

RSVP to join us TODAY for a discussion on this question: https://buff.ly/457N6Gq

Co-sponsors:

Culture of Encounter Project Webinars | Global Catholicism and Religious Pluralism | Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: May Newsletter -

Culture of Encounter Project Webinars | Global Catholicism and Religious Pluralism | Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: May Newsletter Drawing on Pope Francis’ call for a “culture of encounter,” scholars and practitioners are exploring ways to deepen interfaith collaboration around crucial global challenges as part of the Culture of Encounter Project. Watch a video of the May 9 webinar "Religion and Child Rights in the Unit...

How does the approach to ecological values in Al Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth, a milestone Islamic statement on the environment, compare with that of the papal encyclical Laudato Si?

RSVP to join us for a June 3 discussion on this question: https://ow.ly/vYv450RUk3M

Co-sponsors:
Qatar Foundation
Georgetown University in Qatar
The Earth Commons

How can we build bridges between spiritual values, lived religion, and political mobilization around environmental agendas?

RSVP to join us for a June 3 discussion on this question: https://ow.ly/urQv50RUjyb

Co-sponsors:
Qatar Foundation
Georgetown University in Qatar
The Earth Commons

As the global climate crisis intensifies, the mobilization of faith communities around environmental issues is growing in importance. How can religious communities close the gap between values and impact in practice?

RSVP to join us for a June 3 discussion on this question: https://ow.ly/3ViO50RUiII

Co-sponsors:
Qatar Foundation
Georgetown University in Qatar
The Earth Commons

Jonathan Eig, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Martin Luther King Jr., "King: A Life" (2023), visited Georgetown in April to discuss the book and his journey as a writer in conversation with Berkley Center Senior Fellow Paul Elie.

🎥👀Watch their conversation:

A Conversation with Biographer Jonathan Eig This Faith and Culture Series event featured Jonathan Eig, author of a new biography of Martin Luther King Jr., "King: A Life" (2023), discussing the book and his journey as a writer in conversation with Berkley Center Senior Fellow Paul Elie.

We're hiring!

The Program Associate supports the Director of Student Programs in the administration and ex*****on of the Berkley Center’s student programs, especially those that foster student dialogue on campus and around the world. They also assist with student dialogues as part of the Culture of Encounter Project and support the administration of the Religion, Ethics, and World Affairs (REWA) minor, the Doyle Engaging Difference Program, and other student programs.

Details and how to apply: https://ow.ly/xC9H50RH9RX

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 23 -

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 23

The Church's Mission in a World in Crisis | A Conversation with Jonathan Eig | Hoya Paxa Student Symposium: April Newsletter -

The Church's Mission in a World in Crisis | A Conversation with Jonathan Eig | Hoya Paxa Student Symposium: April Newsletter What is the relationship between the Catholic Church's spiritual mission and its response to contemporary global challenges? In his April 2 lecture, Rev. Antonio Spadaro, S.J., undersecretary for the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, addressed this fundamental question for the Church an...

Chag pesach sameach to all those celebrating !

https://mailchi.mp/georgetown/global-dialogues-events-featuring-jos-casanova-and-k-anthony-appiah

Global Dialogues Events Featuring José Casanova and K. Anthony Appiah

Georgetown Global Dialogues Events Featuring Ben Rhodes and Anne Applebaum -

Georgetown Global Dialogues Events Featuring Ben Rhodes and Anne Applebaum

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 22 -

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 22

To all of our followers celebrating, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed Eid!

Today acclaimed biographer Jonathan Eig, whose new biography of Martin Luther King Jr., "King: A Life" (2023), was longlisted for the National Book Award in nonfiction, will talk with Berkley Center Senior Fellow Paul Elie about the book and his journey as a writer.

This in-person Faith and Culture Series event will be followed by a reception and book signing. Copies of "King: A Life" will be available for purchase.

RSVP to join us in Riggs Library: https://ow.ly/S8KL50R7uLX

A Conversation with Biographer Jonathan Eig This Faith and Culture Series event will feature Jonathan Eig, author of a new biography of Martin Luther King Jr., "King: A Life" (2023), discussing the book and his journey as a writer in conversation with Berkley Center Senior Fellow Paul Elie.

Happy Easter to all who are celebrating!

Children on the Move | Sant'Egidio's Dream | Georgetown Global Dialogues: March Newsletter -

Children on the Move | Sant'Egidio's Dream | Georgetown Global Dialogues: March Newsletter Children with lived experience of displacement are often not consulted or engaged in the process of documenting their realities, which can lead to partial or skewed representations. Our March 25 conversation examined what child-informed reporting, research, and advocacy might look like in the contex...