Religion and politics in a fragmented world - 360
S. Vicknesan
Published on August 23, 2023
Across the world, faith is returning to the political sphere.
The nexus between religion and politics has always been manipulated by leaders to achieve political goals. This has caused instability and division in parts of the world, but for some communities, a return to faith has created a sense of purpose and unity.
While secularism may be an entrenched tenet in some countries, in others religion and politics mingle freely with or without popular support.
In the West, a new form of politics is beginning to emerge from the right, dubbed ‘national conservatism’. National conservatism is not so much a new ideology as much as a rejection of the status quo. It is protectionist, anti-immigration and unflinchingly Christian.
In many Muslim nations, political Islam is already considered part of life. In recent years, its prominence has increased in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and it is being exported into new territories.
In nations where one religion dominates, be it Hinduism or Buddhism, nationalism is often deeply entwined with faith. However, when religion is the key pillar around which governance and politics revolve, religious minorities are often left with little choice but to toe the line of the political majority.
The reach of religion deep into our politics remains strong and in need of more analysis. 360info investigates the presence of religion in politics across the Christian, Hindu and Muslim worlds, consulting the experts to find out how and why the two have once again linked closely.
Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.
Editors Note: In the story “Religion in politics” sent at: 20/08/2023 21:45.
This is a corrected repeat.