The Middle East is increasingly polarized along religious axes, including Israel and Palestine. But what is the role of religion, both historically and at present? What issues are most exposed to religious contestation and how can they be resolved? And what has God got to do with it? Prof. Daniel Serwer directs the Conflict Management Program at SAIS. He is also a Senior Fellow at its Center for Transatlantic Relations and affiliated as a Scholar with the Middle East Institute. As a minister-counselor at the U.S. Department of State, Prof. Serwer directed the European office of intelligence and research and served as U.S. special envoy and coordinator for the Bosnian Federation, mediating between Croats and Muslims and negotiating the first agreement reached at the Dayton peace talks. This event costs $25 and includes lunch.