How were religious minorities affected by peace settlements after wars?

Religious minorities were often marginalised, persecuted or displaced by peace settlements after wars.

Peace settlements after wars have historically had significant impacts on religious minorities, often leading to their marginalisation, persecution, or displacement. This is largely due to the fact that peace settlements often involve the redrawing of national boundaries, which can leave religious minorities on the 'wrong' side of the new borders. This can lead to them being targeted for persecution, or forced to flee their homes.

For example, the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, led to significant changes in the map of Europe. This resulted in many religious minorities, such as Jews in Eastern Europe, finding themselves in hostile environments. Similarly, the peace settlements after World War II led to the displacement of millions of people, including religious minorities. The creation of Israel, for instance, led to the displacement of Palestinian Muslims and Christians.

In other cases, peace settlements have led to the marginalisation of religious minorities. For instance, the peace settlement that ended the Lebanese Civil War in 1990, known as the Taif Agreement, led to the marginalisation of the Christian minority in Lebanon. The agreement redistributed political power in favour of the Muslim majority, leaving the Christian minority with less political influence.

Furthermore, peace settlements can also exacerbate existing tensions between religious groups. For example, the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War in 1995, entrenched ethnic and religious divisions by creating a complex political system based on ethnic quotas. This has perpetuated tensions between the country's Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Catholic populations.

In conclusion, while peace settlements are designed to end conflict and establish stability, they often have unintended consequences for religious minorities. Whether through displacement, marginalisation, or the exacerbation of existing tensions, religious minorities often bear the brunt of these peace agreements.