What is communalism? What are the basis of it and how does it takes various forms in politics?
Communalism is a philosophy which believes in society being divided into a number of religious communities that are different from each other and opposed to each other. In this kind of society, each community think itself as superior to others.
Communalism takes various forms in politics:
- The most common form of communalism involves our everyday beliefs. These are religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities and belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other religions. These are so common that we often fail to notice it, even when we believe in it.
- It often leads to a pursuit for political dominance of one’s own religious community. It takes the form of majoritarian dominance, for those belonging to majority community and for people belonging to the minority community; it can take the form of a desire to form a separate political unit.
- Another common form of communalism is political mobilisation. It involves the use of sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeal and plain fear in order to bring the followers of one religion together in the political arena.