Faith and Globalisation

Despite its crucial role in the lives of billions of people, there is a widespread view, especially in the West, that faith is increasingly irrelevant or even a barrier to meeting modern challenges. The links between the religious, economic and political forces shaping our world are too rarely explored or explained. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation intends to help put this right.

The Foundation will work with some of the world's most respected scholars and leaders to develop a deep understanding of how politics, economics and faith can come together in the 21st century for the good of humanity. In partnership with Yale University, the Foundation will develop a high-quality academic course with curricular materials to be made available for free over the internet. In addition, research projects and conferences will be launched as platforms for study, analysis and dialogue. Tony Blair will be the Howland Distinguished Fellow at Yale University during the initial three-year collaboration and one of the teachers in the initial course.

Among the topics to be covered will be what business and political leaders can learn from religion and how religions must adapt to the forces of globalisation to ensure their ethical values continue to have an influence. It is expected that partnerships will also be forged over time with other world-class universities.