Institute for Global Engagement

06/08/2026

When religious communities face harm, the question is often narrowed too quickly: “Was there a clear religious motive?”

In this Portico piece, Dennis P. Petri argues for a wider lens. Motive matters, but it should not become a gatekeeping device that keeps vulnerable communities from receiving attention or protection.

Instead of asking only what motivated the attacker, we should also ask what made a community vulnerable and what would reduce the harm.

Read the article: https://globalengage.org/portico/stop-looking-only-for-a-religious-motive/

06/03/2026

New at Portico: Dashi Blessing Seng Htoi Lu reflects on the "collective spirit of young Kachins in the diaspora, connected across distance, carrying the weight of the past while remaining determined to help shape a different future" https://zurl.co/zHPS6

A nation is rebuilt in many ways, not only by those who stand on its frontlines, but also by those who quietly carry its future across distant lands. Some remain on the frontlines, while others carry the same commitment across borders, holding onto the hope of returning with something more to give.

06/01/2026

Freedom of faith shows up in daily life.

It shapes whether neighbors can live openly. Whether communities can build trust. Whether people of different faiths, or no faith, can participate fully in society.

At IGE, we work toward a world where everyone has the ability to live what they believe.

Learn more: https://globalengage.org/

05/28/2026

In her new essay at IGE's blogazine Portico, Emily White calls on the international religious freedom movement to "confront and correct the patterns that determine whose suffering is seen—and whose is ignored." https://zurl.co/QvIdd

In the early 2000s, the Sudanese conflict became a moral cause célèbre in the United States. Alarming images and testimonies emerging from Darfur galvanized an atypical coalition of actors, ranging from evangelical churches and university students to bipartisan groups of policymakers and advocacy ...

05/26/2026

The recent special issue of The Review of Faith & International Affairs on "Possibilities for Covenantal Pluralism in the West" is now fully open-access! Download for free at https://zurl.co/PxtLi

05/25/2026

Not every conflict can be understood only in political or military terms.

This Portico article reflects on Bin Laden’s jihad through a theological lens and reminds readers that ideas, doctrines, and sacred language can shape real-world violence in lasting ways.

Read the article: https://globalengage.org/portico/faith-conflict-and-consequence-a-theological-reading-of-bin-ladens-jihad/

05/19/2026

A big welcome to the first of IGE's summer interns: Pepperdine University Annabelle Gentling and Occidental College Evan Jensen! We are grateful for the dedication of your time and talents to our mission.

05/18/2026

Religion is often treated like a side note in geopolitics. It is not.

This Portico article explores how religion shapes the political dynamics surrounding the U.S., Armenia, and Azerbaijan—and why a fuller understanding of the region requires paying attention to faith, history, identity, and power together.

Read the article: https://globalengage.org/portico/the-impact-of-religion-on-the-geopolitics-of-the-u-s-armenia-azerbaijan-triangle/

05/14/2026

In her new essay at Portico, Jenna Kadolph reflects on her experiences studying abroad and argues that "building multi-faith and cross-cultural relationships does not mean we need to abandon our own faith." https://zurl.co/koUCz

Growing up in a small city in Iowa surrounded by rural communities, values of faith, family, and community were woven into my taught perspective of the world. I attended a private Catholic K-12 school system, which provided an in-depth education and practice of Catholic traditions and beliefs—valu...

05/13/2026

Meaningful engagement does not begin by pretending differences do not exist.

It begins by recognizing the dignity of others, listening with humility, and choosing to stay present in conversations that matter.