Religion and Nationalism. WhatIsNationalism? Nationalism is an ideology (belief system) which claims...

Religion Religion and and

NationalismNationalism

Religion and NationalismReligion and Nationalism

What What

Is Is

Nationalism?Nationalism?


Nationalism is an Nationalism is an ideology (belief ideology (belief system) which system) which claims supreme claims supreme loyalty from loyalty from individuals for individuals for the nation and the nation and the state that the state that represents it.represents it.


Nationalism is one Nationalism is one of the most of the most important important factors in world factors in world history and history and continues to be continues to be in contemporary in contemporary international international politics.politics.


When did it begin? The political focus on When did it begin? The political focus on nationalism has evolved over the last five nationalism has evolved over the last five centuries (recall the Thirty Years War and centuries (recall the Thirty Years War and the Treaty of Westphalia).the Treaty of Westphalia).


Where is it going? After World War II, Where is it going? After World War II, some predicted an end to some predicted an end to nationalism…nationalism…


……Today, it is stronger than it has Today, it is stronger than it has ever been.ever been.


Is nationalism Is nationalism good or bad…?good or bad…?

……Well, Well, nationalism nationalism has both has both positive and positive and negative negative aspects.aspects.


On the On the positivepositive side, it can side, it can promote promote democracy, self-democracy, self-government, government, economic economic growth, and growth, and social/political/ social/political/ economic economic diversity and diversity and experimentation.experimentation.


On the On the negative negative side, it can lead side, it can lead to isolationism…to isolationism…


……feelings of feelings of superioritysuperiority


……suspicion suspicion of others, of others, and...and...


……messianismmessianism


It can also cause It can also cause instability and instability and lead to foreign lead to foreign intervention and intervention and hyper-hyper-factionalization factionalization of states.of states.


Religion in Religion in International International

PoliticsPolitics


Religion is one of the most Religion is one of the most ancient forces that ancient forces that influence world events. influence world events. Objectively, it can be said Objectively, it can be said to play a dual role in world to play a dual role in world politics…politics…


On the one hand, On the one hand, it has been a it has been a source of source of humanitarian humanitarian concernconcern and a and a vehicle for vehicle for pacifismpacifism… … including but not including but not limited to…limited to…


Ghandi and Indian Ghandi and Indian foreign policy…foreign policy…


……Christian, Christian, Islamic, and Islamic, and other religious other religious denominations denominations and their relief and their relief work all over the work all over the world…world…


……and in many cases is the basis for the and in many cases is the basis for the anti-nuclear movement in Europe and anti-nuclear movement in Europe and the foundation of Liberation Theology the foundation of Liberation Theology in Latin America.in Latin America.


However, it has However, it has also been a force also been a force at the at the center of center of many bloody many bloody warswars, including…, including…


……the reaction in the reaction in Europe to Islam Europe to Islam leading to the leading to the Crusades (1095- Crusades (1095- 1291)…1291)…


……the Protestant the Protestant Reformation Reformation (1517) which led (1517) which led to the Thirty to the Thirty Years War (1618-Years War (1618-1648)…1648)…


……and religions’ role in the imperial era.and religions’ role in the imperial era.


In Western civilization, In Western civilization, the process of the process of secularizationsecularization has led has led to a separation of to a separation of church and state. Not church and state. Not so within the Islamic so within the Islamic and Hindu world.and Hindu world.


And religion has also And religion has also created divisions created divisions withinwithin countries, such countries, such as…as…


……the the CatholicCatholic and and ProtestantProtestant division in division in Ireland…Ireland…


……the the HinduHindu, , MuslimMuslim, , SikhSikh divisions in India…divisions in India…


……divisions between divisions between SunniSunni and and Shi’iteShi’ite Muslims in Iraq… Muslims in Iraq…


……and and JewishJewish, , IslamicIslamic, and , and ChristianChristian divisions in divisions in Lebanon and Lebanon and Israel.Israel.


Islamic Concepts Islamic Concepts and and

DefinitionsDefinitions


IslamIslam – (which means – (which means “submission to “submission to God” a Muslim God” a Muslim being “one who being “one who submits”), is a submits”), is a monotheistic monotheistic religion founded by religion founded by Muhammad (?570-Muhammad (?570-632 a.d.), a prophet 632 a.d.), a prophet who received who received Allah’s teachings in Allah’s teachings in a vision.a vision.


The KoranThe Koran - is the - is the central religious central religious text of Islam, text of Islam, which Muslims which Muslims consider the consider the verbatim word of verbatim word of GodGod..


The Caliph’sThe Caliph’s are are successors to successors to Muhammad. Muhammad. They are They are described in the described in the Koran as Koran as representatives representatives of Allah on Earth, of Allah on Earth, and also…and also…


……as leaders of the as leaders of the UmmahUmmah, the , the spiritual, cultural, and political spiritual, cultural, and political community of Muslims.community of Muslims.


The notion of "houses" or "divisions" of The notion of "houses" or "divisions" of the world in Islam such as the world in Islam such as Dar al-Dar al-IslamIslam (House of Islam) and (House of Islam) and Dar al-Dar al-HarbHarb (House of War) does not appear (House of War) does not appear in the Koran or the Hadiths. This geo-in the Koran or the Hadiths. This geo-political house of divisions was more political house of divisions was more acutely framed by a 13acutely framed by a 13thth century century Islamic scholar, Ibn Taymiyyah, in Islamic scholar, Ibn Taymiyyah, in response to Mongol invasions of response to Mongol invasions of Muslim lands.Muslim lands.


The concept of The concept of JihadJihad, is often in , is often in the West the West translated as translated as “holy war,” but “holy war,” but carries the carries the broader idea of broader idea of “struggle” “struggle” which could be which could be personal or personal or religious.religious.


Political Heritage Political Heritage of Muslimsof Muslims

3 Historic 3 Historic ElementsElements


1.1. A triumphant A triumphant past…past…


2.2. A clash with A clash with Christian Christian powers, powers, especially especially European…European…


3.3. Domination of Muslims by others: Domination of Muslims by others:

a. Defeats after 1500 a.d.a. Defeats after 1500 a.d.

b. Ottoman Empire after WWIb. Ottoman Empire after WWI

c. British/French/American colonialism c. British/French/American colonialism


IslamIslam

AndAnd

NationalismNationalism


Today, the ummah Today, the ummah takes the form of takes the form of a “Muslim pride” a “Muslim pride” movement. This movement. This includes a includes a rejection of rejection of direct direct interference interference from outside from outside powers…powers…


……to the resurrection of cultural traditions to the resurrection of cultural traditions such as: such as:

a. Banning alcohola. Banning alcohol

b. Women covering their facesb. Women covering their faces

c. A legal system based on the Shari’ahc. A legal system based on the Shari’ah


However, the However, the creation of a creation of a united ummah is united ummah is not likely in the not likely in the foreseeable foreseeable future, primarily future, primarily because of…because of…


1. Nationalism1. Nationalism

2. Ethnic differences 2. Ethnic differences (Iranians, Kazakhs, (Iranians, Kazakhs, Pakistanis, and Pakistanis, and many others who many others who are not Arabic)are not Arabic)

3. Sectarian divisions 3. Sectarian divisions (Sunni-Shia)(Sunni-Shia)


Within the House of Islam, Within the House of Islam, religious differences are a source religious differences are a source of intense conflict…of intense conflict…

Majority Sunnis and minority Majority Sunnis and minority Shi’ites are at odds over the Shi’ites are at odds over the proper leadership of the proper leadership of the ummah…ummah…


Sunnis recognize Sunnis recognize Abu-Bakr Abu-Bakr (Muhammad’s (Muhammad’s close companion close companion and advisor) as and advisor) as the legitimate the legitimate heir…heir…


……while Shi’ites while Shi’ites recognize recognize AliAli (Muhammad’s (Muhammad’s first cousin and first cousin and son-in-law).son-in-law).

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