Fostering Cultures of Encounter: Framing Papal Teaching on Dialogue as Multi-Track Peacebuilding

Authors

Maria Power, Lecturer in Religion and Peacebuilding at the University of Liverpool
Christopher Hrynkow, Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and Culture at St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan

Abstract

This article demonstrates that there is a rough parallel between (1) Diamond and McDonald’s (1996) notion of multi-track diplomacy and (2) the four levels of inter-religious dialogue identified by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, along with two other levels discerned within papal teaching by the authors. Diamond and McDonald expanded the political science concept of dual-track diplomacy and, in the process, helped to buttress the legitimacy of peace studies discourse in that discipline. Comparably, this article seeks to introduce papal teaching on dialogue framed in terms of multi-track peacebuilding. As a result, it solidifies a latent resonance between Catholic Social Teaching and peace studies, a confluence that is shown to accord with Pope Francis’ teachings on cultures of encounter.

Recommended Citation

Power, Maria and Hrynkow, Christopher (2017) "Fostering Cultures of Encounter: Framing Papal Teaching on Dialogue as Multi-Track Peacebuilding," The Journal of Social Encounters: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, 24-36.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/social_encounters/vol1/iss1/4