Thomas F. Farr

Thomas F. Farr is visiting associate professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, where he directs the Religion and Foreign Policy program. A PhD in European history, Farr has taught history at the U.S. Military Academy and international relations at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Farr was an American diplomat for 21 years, the last four of which he served as the State Department's first director of the Office of International Religious Freedom. He has contributed chapters on religion and foreign policy to several edited volumes and has published articles in Foreign Affairs, First Things, Mediterranean Quarterly and The Review of Faith and International Affairs. His book World of Faith and Freedom: Why International Religious Liberty is Vital to American National Security was recently published by Oxford University Press.

Posts by Thomas F. Farr:

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Religious freedom & U.S. foreign policy

Ten years ago today President Clinton signed the landmark International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), a law its supporters hoped would put religious freedom at the core of American foreign policy. During the ensuing decade IRF policies have produced admirable and encouraging results, including humanitarian successes and institutional first steps toward altering the secularist culture at the State Department. However, it cannot yet be said that religious freedom is anywhere near the center of U.S. foreign policy. The next administration should elevate and broaden IRF policy in order to serve both the humanitarian and the national security interests of the United States. [...]

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