Why are people sectarian

Yet the money squandered by the political elite — most of them are billionaires — is nowhere to be seen. With all the noble and sincere intentions to overcome divides and unify in their efforts to rebuild, few Beirutis are in the position to turn down assistance when it is offered from religious organisations and sectarian leadership with their own political agenda.

The public is ripe for the kind of exploitation that is aimed to shore up sectarian allegiances at a local level and force vulnerable people into systems of dependence that keep the elite in power. Every time the Lebanese people find themselves in need, they are left with nowhere to turn but to those whose very existence feeds on their dependency. When I left Lebanon after five years in , it was with a sense of guilt verging on disgust when I was discovered I had allowed sectarianism to creep into the way I conducted myself.

In Beirut, every interaction can be framed in sectarian terms. To get even the most basic things done requires an understanding of who you are dealing with and an ability to navigate the sectarian divides.

It is exhausting. There is even less sense now that anything will ever change. The youth, who wanted to reclaim their Lebanese identity in a way that reflected their secular values, are deflated.

Worn down, these same young people now tell me the only way out of the whole broken system that has betrayed them so gravely is to leave, and turn their backs on a place so corrupted that they never want to return. View the discussion thread. The bleak reality of sectarian Lebanon. Lauren Williams. No country for seculars Lebanon — Rania Abouzeid Raniaab August 24, True or not, the suggestion that aid may be politicised in the aftermath of the appalling 4 August explosion surprised no one.

Related Content. Navy fails to exercise common sense with Saudi boarding party. Show Comments View the discussion thread. Next Article The limits of Zoom diplomacy in Asia. It is a matter of personal identity rather than faith. There is also a certain amount of stereotyping of people depending on where they grew up, where they went to school, or which football team they are perceived to support.

Sectarianism is complex and multi-layered. From the point of view of this resource, it is anchored within a framework of human rights, tolerance, and social justice. It is an issue for all of us. This essay addresses these questions. The essay focuses on Copts' growing frustration with state authorities' responses to their grievances. August 3, A Band of Muslim Brothers? This essay examines Bahrain's involvement in the crisis. Is there any evidence that Saudi Arabia and Iran, as a function of their competition with each other, are seeking to expand their influence in Southeast Asia, and in Malaysia in particular, through the promulgation of Shia and Wahhabi ideology?

If so, to what extent and by what means could Malaysia respond to this development so as to avoid jeopardizing the fruitful aspects of their relations with both countries? It argues that, at its core, the split in the Middle East is not a sectarian clash opposing Sunnis and Shias — although after years of bloody conflict, many of the actors involved have come to see it that way.

It is a geopolitical battle between, on the one side, states and groups aligned with the West and interested in preserving the regional status quo; and, on the other, states and groups characterized by their anti-Western rhetoric and eager to subvert that status quo. In some regards, it is a replay of the Arab Cold War — but extended to Iran, and with Islamism replacing Arab socialism as the subverting ideology.

November 7, The Political or Social Economy of Sectarianism in Lebanon Rima Majed Most of the literature that seeks to explain sectarianism in Lebanon focuses on its history or on the regional and geopolitical dynamics associated with it. Relatively few studies have looked at the internal factors that shape the process of sectarianization and sustain sectarianism today. This essay seeks to shed light on the current political economy of sectarianism in Lebanon so as to advance our understanding of this phenomenon.

First, it sets out to describe and help readers understand the evolving pretexts given by the successive Burmese governments and the methods of group destruction and resultant waves — five in total — of the outflow of Rohingyas in large number. Then it attempts to offer an interpretive framework within which this cycle of violence-exodus-lull is best understood. April 24, Sectarianism without Borders: Copts and Genocide Recognition Elizabeth Monier In this essay, the author contends that the violence against Copts has been misleadingly characterized as alien to Egyptian culture, and discusses how some diaspora Copts and Church leaders have sought to portray the attacks that have taken place since the Arab Spring.

July 18, The Sectarian Dimension of the Syrian Civil War and Lebanese-Syrian Relations Abbas Assi The eruption of conflict between the Syrian regime and the armed opposition exacerbated the political and sectarian divisions within the Lebanese government, causing it to sever relations with Damascus and dissociate itself from the war. Nevertheless, the Lebanese government eventually was forced to coordinate with the Assad regime in order to manage the refugee crisis and other spillover effects of the conflict.

In these instances, Islamophobia is induced from abroad. But a nationalist ideology rooted in religion can also fan it and unleash massive violence. The party has promoted a Hindutva ideology that declares India as fundamentally Hindu and as such, its culture should be viewed in terms of Hindu ideas and values. This article discusses the series of controversial policies that the BJP under the National Democratic Alliance NDA has implemented since its re-election in and the domestic as well as international reactions they have elicited.

June 16, Nation or Religion? Or does it have a strong capacity of resilience to sectarian trends? Most economists agree that significant levels of income inequality negatively impact economic growth and development, so why is it not commonly considered how significant inequality between genders might also diminish social and political outcomes?

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