Religion: A Missing Component of Professional Military Education PKSOI Paper | Page 24

present at all levels of a conflict – interpersonal, tribal
and community, national, and regional. An ability to
engage positively with religious leaders is crucial to
mission success. State actors engaged in PSO can build
upon the peace trajectory of religions. However, this
is rarely the current line of approach used by military
leaders.
In 2009, the United States Institute of Peace and
the United States Army Peacekeeping and Stability
Operations Institute published Guiding Principles for
Stabilization and Reconstruction. The purpose of the text
is to fill the gaps that exist among civilian agencies of
the U.S. government regarding PSO. The manual is
meant to serve as PSO doctrine for civilians. Astonishingly, there is no mention of religion anywhere in the
volume. ADP 3-07 (31 August 2012) Stability does not
discuss religion or religious actors as part of stability
operations. ADRP 3-07 (31 August 2012), Stability, incorporates one paragraph addressing religion. It notes
that religion is a significant characteristic of many
governments and that it cannot be easily discounted;
however, apparently not important enough to address
in any detail. ATP 3-07.5 (August 2012), Stability Techniques makes no mention of religion though it discusses NGOs and humanitarian organizations.
Why Religious Actors as Counterparts?
Religious actors are not constrained by state policy
and national constituencies.43 Track One actors engaged in peacebuilding initiatives can mesh the Track
Two and Three activities of religious leaders and organizations that are embedded in local communities and
who are integral players in society.44 A conflict resolution approach that works across all Tracks simultane-

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