American Religious Ngo And The Post-cold War U.s. Policy Toward Sudan,

Since the end of Cold War, religious factors have been playing an increasing role in American foreign policy, as reflected in the growing roles of religious NGOs in foreign affairs. The religious factors in foreign policy can be seen in a number of ways, such as the legalization of religious freedom, the establishment of the office of religious freedom in the State Department of the U.S. government and internationalization of religious issues. To advocate and promote religious freedom and /or faith-based diplomacy has become the bipartisan consensus in American politics. Against such a political backdrop, the humanitarian crises in Darfur, the Sudan, and the American foreign policy toward the Sudan has become a focal point for religious NGOs in the U.S. in early 21^st century.Despite diversity of religious beliefs and policy opinions toward Darfur, a coalition of Jewish, Christian and Islamic religious organizations has formed, with Jewish and Christian organizations and their alliance taking a leadership role in the coalition. The Jewish and Christian alliance regards the Darfur issue as an issue of genocide, and has launched a massive social campaign called "For Darfur" in an effort to raise the profile of freedom of religion internationally and to influence American foreign policy toward the Sudan. They have been able to do so by utilizing their increasingly mature political activism, an international vision and experiences, alliance on single issues and large-scale advocacy campaigns. At the same time, Jewish and Christian church organizations also lobbied the congress and the Office of the President, as well as launching moral advocacy to put pressure on the American Congress and the President to adopt strong policy positions toward the Sudanese government and to intervene with the Darfur issues. As a result of the interventions and activities of religious organizations, the American government sanctioned the Sudanese government, adopting policies that are very critical of the Sudanese government and leaning toward the anti-government armed forces in Sudan. This has led to drastic deterioration in U.S.-Sudanese relations, and seriously hampered the mediating efforts to end the conflict in Darfur by the international community.