Religious Networks as Global Actors

Religious communities were among the first truly global networks, and they remain important actors today. Organizations such as the World Council of Churches, founded in Amsterdam in 1948, connect many Protestant and Orthodox churches, while the Catholic Church operates worldwide through dioceses, schools, hospitals and the charity network Caritas. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, founded in 1969, links states with large Muslim populations.

The annual Hajj to Mecca gathers Muslims from almost every country, making it one of the largest regular international gatherings. Groups such as the Aga Khan Development Network and Sikh and Buddhist charities run schools, clinics and disaster relief across borders. Religious networks spread ideas, provide services and sometimes mediate conflicts, as the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio did in Mozambique's 1992 peace agreement. Scholars study them descriptively, noting both their humanitarian work and debates about their political influence.