소프트 파워를 통한 UAE 실리 외교 전략

The UAE’s Pragmatic Diplomatic Strategy through Soft Power: Focusing on the Message of Religious Reconciliation

Religious conflicts often lie at the heart of many political disputes, with religious identity frequently manipulated as a political tool. Particularly in the Middle East, religious identity plays a significant role in both domestic and international politics, leading to the characterization of many conflicts in the region as religious in nature. However, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently pursued a strategy of de-escalation and prioritized its national interests by employing religious diplomacy as a form of soft power. One of the UAE's most notable endeavors in religious diplomacy is the normalization of relations with Israel, despite their differing religious backgrounds, as Israel's national identity is rooted in Zionism. Despite these religious disparities, the UAE has sought to foster coexistence and cooperation with Israel by promoting religious tolerance, thereby maximizing its national interests. This study aims to analyze the pragmatic diplomatic strategy of the UAE, focusing on its use of religious diplomacy as a soft power tool. In doing so, it delves into the role of religious diplomacy in the UAE and examines the establishment of the Abrahamic Family House as a symbolic gesture of religious tolerance.