The sticky subject of religion: can it ever be the glue for a stable society?
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Authors
Harris, Daniel W.
Olson, Melanie L.
Subjects
Religion
religious identity
separation of church and state
religion-state differentiation
domestic stability
social cohesion
ethnic conflict
minority rights
minority issues
Israel
Iran
Turkey
Zionism
Islamic Republic
theocracy
Turkish-Islamic Synthesis
Islamism
Judaism
religious identity
separation of church and state
religion-state differentiation
domestic stability
social cohesion
ethnic conflict
minority rights
minority issues
Israel
Iran
Turkey
Zionism
Islamic Republic
theocracy
Turkish-Islamic Synthesis
Islamism
Judaism
Advisors
Simons, Anna
Date of Issue
2011-12
Date
December 2011
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
An assumption underpinning Western liberal democracy is that separation of religion and state always improves stability, and U.S. policy often encourages nations to move toward secular government structures. Yet, ethnically plural societies may need a common identity for the nation to gel and religion might be the glue that can hold a society together. Recent nation-building efforts signal a need for greater understanding of how best to employ religion as a cross-cutting tie for social cohesion. This thesis examines Israel, Iran, and Turkey; each has varying ethnic and religious compositions and has attempted to use religion for domestic stability. While Israel and Iran validate religion's cohesive power, all cases highlight the possible adverse effects of this approach. The findings of this thesis identify which political systems, religious contexts, population demographics, and/or political circumstances are most conducive for leveraging religion to aid domestic stability. We conclude that, while in many cases religion may increase volatility, in some circumstances religious glue may, actually, effectively bridge ethnic divisions to promote cohesion and stability. The most conducive conditions for this approach are when political systems protect minority rights and allow religion in the public sphere, but restrict the government from mandating religious practices.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 77 p. ; 28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.