 |
ISIS: HIDDEN INTERESTS
With Rev. Doug Leonard, Director of the Al Amana Centre
Based on his work with Gulf governments and conversations with diplomats, religious leaders and Gulf government officials, Rev. Leonard will outline the geo-political tension, local interests and proxy power that undergird ISIS -- hidden interests of which the US government is aware and which have informed President Obama's strategy. He will also discuss how the field of diplomacy preparation is evolving with relation to religion and why successful US, UN, UK and EU diplomats who are working in the MENA region are increasingly religiously literate.
Doug Leonard is Executive Director of Al Amana Centre, an academy for the study of global Muslim-Christian relations and diplomacy based in the Sultanate of Oman. He serves as an advisor to the Omani government regarding the organization of conferences and exchange programs that showcase legal and government structures which enable greater inclusion of religious minorities in state participation, the building of civil society and NGO sectors in Muslim-majority nations. He trains and advises UN negotiators working on cease fire agreements in North Africa and the Middle East about the strategies for involving religious leaders in mediation processes; constitution-making; community reconciliation; and resource negotiations. Rev. Leonard is also serving as General Secretary of the Gulf Churches Fellowship, an ecumenical council of all Christian denominations (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant) in the six Gulf countries (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Bahrain).