Altars and Ammunition: The Effect of Religious Freedom on Civil War

This study examines the impact of religious freedom on the onset of civil war. It explores how governmental restrictions on religious practices exacerbate social divisions, foster mistrust, and heighten the risk of violence. Using variables like ethnic fractionalization, GDP per capita, life expectancy, and unemployment rates as controls, robust statistical models validate the hypothesis that increased religious freedom significantly reduces the likelihood of civil war. The findings highlight religious freedom as an important policy to consider and an effective tool for domestic stability