‘Perceived Marginalization’ of the Religious Majority in Conflict Violence

• In Event: Religion and the Political Incorporation of Minority Groups

Abstract

Ethnic diversity is often highlighted as key to understanding the ability or willingness of groups to incite violent conflicts. Scholars of civil war have repeatedly emphasized the role of ethnic homogeneity/heterogeneity in influencing the trajectories of conflicts. Several measures of
ethnicity like ethnic fractionalization, polarization and horizontal inequalities are used to explain such violence. However, the existing literature does not associate marginalization faced by ethnic groups as a reason for these conflicts. Moreover, the role of 'perceived marginalization' of the religious majority in a state, as a condition for causing violent conflict, has not been considered. In this paper, I investigate the influence of such 'perceived marginalization' in the light of the Hindu-Muslim relations in India since 2014, the year in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office. I argue that the 'perceived marginalization' of the majority Hindus has triggered violence against the minority Muslims. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the proposed National Register for Citizens (NRC), vigilantism over cow slaughter, rescinding Article 370 of the Indian Constitution–all show the role of 'perceived marginalization' of the majority Hindus in triggering violence against the Muslim minority. Hence, 'perceived marginalization' of religious majority can serve as a justification to preserve their ethnic homogeneity, thereby resulting in violence.

Author

• Chirasree Mukherjee, Eastern Michigan University