What Role does Religion play in Political Conflicts? Key Question:

Religious Fundamentalism and Extremism Religious fundamentalism – a return to the basics of their faith. found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam Religious extremism – fundamentalism carried to the point of violence. found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

Wahhabi Islam Sees the West as a great enemy of Islam and one that must be opposed Saudi Arabia a champion of Wahhabi Islam Developed in 18 th century as a rejection of sacrilegious practices of Ottoman Turks Saudis fund Islamic Wahhabi schools, madrasses 4eXwD4MdE

Islamic Extremists and Jihad an Islamic holy war against the West

Religion vs. government policies Religious groups may oppose policies seen as contradicting their religious values. Religion is element of cultural diversity that has led to most conflict in places. Religion vs. social change—exposure to beliefs and values originating in MDCs in LDCs because of participation in global economy and culture can cause conflicts Taliban vs. Western Values—1996, welcomed by international community because of Russian aggression, strict Islamic laws as interpreted by the Taliban, gross violence toward lawbreakers, banned “western, non- Islamic” activities, defeated by US forces in 2001, regrouped and have resumed fight to control Afghanistan

Hiduism vs. Social Equality 1800s British introduced their social and moral concepts to Indians Caste system—hereditary order assigned at birth 1. priests/top administrator 2. warrior 3. merchant 4. agricultural worker/artisan Untouchables—indigenous non-Aryans Strong opposition for government quota on untouchable places in university programs

Religion vs. Communism Russian Orthodox Church made part of Russian government by Czar Peter the Great Karl Marx said religion “Opium of the people” 1918 Soviet government eliminated the church state connection, confiscated church property Revival in Eastern Europe—mostly Catholic Central Asian countries—most people are Muslims

Conflicts along Religious Borders Intrafaith Boundaries Boundaries within a single major faith. Interfaith Boundaries Boundaries between the world’s major faiths.

Interfaith Boundary in Africa

Intrafaith Boundaries Ex:Conflict between Irish protestants and Catholics

Why Do Territorial Conflicts Arise among Religious Groups? Religion versus Religion Conflicts most likely to occur at a boundary between two religious groups. Religious Wars in Ireland –A small faction chose to join the United Kingdom when Ireland became independent in »46 percent protestant and 40 percent Roman Catholic (2001) –Roman Catholics have been victimized by discriminatory practices, such as exclusion form higher-paying jobs and better schools. –Belfast, the capital city, is highly segregated. –Protests by Roman Catholics began in 1968 with bloodshed of both Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Distribution of Protestants in Ireland, 1911 Fig 6-14: When Ireland became independent in 1937, 26 northern districts with large Protestant populations chose to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland Identities are tied to Religion, but are deepened by: - Economics - colonial experiences - activity spaces (segregation)

Catholic Protestors in Northern Ireland

Religion versus religion The Middle East

Jerusalem watch?v=4r1EmEni2Rw 10 minute video watch?v=cZIzRB1T8ug 13 minutes more simple watch?v=4r1EmEni2Rw watch?v=cZIzRB1T8ug Fig. 6-15: The Old City of Jerusalem contains holy sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Religious wars in the Middle East Conflict in the Middle East is among the world’s longest standing. Jews, Christians, and Muslims have fought nearly 2,000 years to control the same small strip of Land in the Eastern Mediterranean. Jews, Christians and Muslims have fought over the same land For Jews, it’s the promised land For Christians, it’s the Holy land and city because of Jesus’ time there For Muslims, it’s the 3 rd most holy city after Mecca and Medina because Muhammad is thought to have ascended to heaven here.

The Crusades Muslims captured most of the Middle East including Palestine and Jerusalem in the 7 th century Converted Christians to Islam The Muslims invaded into Europe as far north as France, were pushed back by the Franks, captured Turkey including Constantinople and even advanced into Southeastern Europe, as far north and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Civil war there goes back to the 15 th century Muslim invasion. Europeans launched crusades to take back the Holy Land

Jews vs. Muslims in Palestine The Muslim Ottoman Empire controlled Palestine for most of the two centuries between 1516 and 1917 Great Britain took over after WWI Great Britain encouraged and aided Jewish immigration, in part because of political reasons, in part because of sympathies Thousands and thousands of Jews were coming (over 150,000 had come between 1904 and 1929) Arabs rioted in the 20s and Jews responded to attacks by forming a protective militia Britain weakened after WWII and turned matter over to the UN which came up with the partition plan Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq declared war the day after the British pulled out

Reconnecting Cultural Groups About 700,000 Jews migrated to then- Palestine between 1900 and After 1948, when the land was divided into two states (Israel and Palestine), 600,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were pushed out of newly-designated Israeli territories.

Boundary Changes in Palestine/Israel Fig. 6-16: The UN partition plan for Palestine in 1947 contrasted with the boundaries that were established after the War. Major changes later resulted from the 1967 War.

Landscapes of Settlements Israelis have had a policy of building settlements for Jews in the Occupied Territories

Landscape of the Gaza Strip, 2005 In 2005, the Israeli government pulled out of the Gaza Strip, burning down Jewish settlements and handing control over to Palestinians.

The West Bank with a the proposed security wall, parts of which the Israeli government has already built.

Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Political and Physical maps Fig. 6-17: The West Bank and Gaza have been under Israeli control since 1967, and numerous Israeli settlements have been established there. The area includes three physical regions: the coastal plain, the hills, and the Jordan River Valley.

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