Religious Nationalism and Minority Insecurity: Analyzing Sectarian Mobilization in Democratic Systems

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 10, October 2015 | pp. 523–531

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000080

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Religious Nationalism and Minority Insecurity: Analyzing Sectarian Mobilization in Democratic Systems

Names of Authors: Priya Nair¹, Rajesh Kumar²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, New Delhi, India; ²Department of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

Abstract: Abstract: The rise of exclusionary religious nationalism within pluralistic democratic systems poses a significant structural threat to minority rights and regional social stability. This study analyzes the socio-political drivers behind escalating sectarian tensions and localized communal violence across multi-ethnic states. We utilized a comprehensive content analysis of political discourse, legislative data, and a localized survey of 450 minority households. The empirical results show that populist political strategies frequently mobilize majority religious identities to consolidate voting blocs, which correlates with an increase in sectarian violence. Quantitative tracking reveals that areas with high levels of exclusionary political rhetoric saw a notable rise in minority displacement incidents (Mean = 8.4 events/year) compared to integrated control areas (Mean = 1.2 events/year), yielding p < 0.01. The study demonstrates that institutional biases within local judiciaries and law enforcement bodies often compound minority vulnerabilities by failing to prosecute perpetrators. The paper concludes that protecting minority security requires constitutional safety mechanisms, independent human rights commissions, and grassroots interfaith coalitions.

Keywords: Religious Nationalism, Minority Insecurity, Sectarian Mobilization, Democratic Systems, Communal Violence, Populist Rhetoric, Constitutional Protections

Manuscript Timeline: Received: May 19, 2015; Revised: July 24, 2015; Accepted: August 28, 2015; Published: October 19, 2015

Citation: Nair, P., & Kumar, R. (2015). Religious Nationalism and Minority Insecurity: Analyzing Sectarian Mobilization in Democratic Systems. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(10), 523–531. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000080

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