Cursing Darkness, Lighting Candles
Robert Seiple Monday, 1 March 2004
On December 18 the State Department issued its latest report on religious freedom, as it is required to do annually under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Then on February 10, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (an independent body also established by IRFA) answered with a press release and letter to Colin Powell arguing that the State Department report had not gone far enough in designating the worst offenders as "countries of particular concern" (CPCs) worthy of sanctions. This tension is not surprising, as it is emblematic of longstanding methodological differences regarding "punishment" vs. "promotion" in foreign policy.
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