Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, in America,
and the bombing of a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia, have forced may people to seriously
consider the impact of religion on political conflict. This literature review readdresses the
serious neglect of religion in political studies by examining the three theoretical
approaches to religion and political conflict, on the domestic and international level, that
can be identified.
Primordialists argue that differences in religious traditions should be viewed as one of the
most important factors in explaining violent interactions in and between nations. They
stress how differences in cultural identity and cosmologies can lead to violent conflict in
and between nations. They illustrate how the deep malaise of modem secular society is
leading to a backlash of alternative worldviews. This approach is culturally too simplistic
in not providing a complex enough framework for understanding the dynamic social
forces that constitute cultural identity.
Instrumentalists admit that conflicts might be aggravated by diverging religious creeds
but are rarel y if ever caused by them; instead most conflicts are about power and wealth.
They emphasize the role played by political entrepreneurs, who use religion as an
instrument to further their own goals. This approach is guilty of the other extreme -
downplaying the role of religion and culture.
Constructivists regard social conflicts as being embedded in cognitive structures like
ideology, religion, nationalism and ethnicity. Constructivists can theorize about cultural
identity, social structures, actors and forces together with the material world of power and
wealth and are therefore best suited to give an adequate description of religion and
political conflict. Despite its great promise constructivism still needs to step up to the
board and deliver theories about religion and political conflict. The serious neglect of
religion in political studies needs to be addressed and the most likely framework within
which to do so seems to be constructivism. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die skokkende terroriste aanvalle op die World Trade Center en die Pentagon in Amerika
en die bom in 'n nagklub in Bali, Indonesië, het baie mense gedwing om die impak van
godsdiens op politieke konflik ernstig te oorweeg. Die literatuuroorsig herondersoek die
ernstige verwaarloosing van godsdiens in politieke wetenskap weer eens, deur te kyk na
die drie benaderings wat ten opsigte van godsdiens en politieke konflik, op plaaslike en
internasionale vlak geïdentifiseer kan word.
Primordialiste glo dat verskille tussen gosdienstradisies gesien moet word as een van die
vernaamste faktore vir politieke konflik binne en tussen nasies. Hulle beklemtoon die
wyse waarop verskille in kulturele identiteit en kosmologie kan bydra tot gewelddadige
konflik binne en tussen nasies. Hulle illustreer verder hoe die diep malaise van die
moderne sekulêre samelewing besig is om te lei tot 'n teenreaksie van alternatiewe
wêreldbeskouings. Die benadering is egter kultureel gesproke te simplisties deurdat dit
nie 'n raamwerk kan skep wat kompleks genoeg is ten einde die dinamies sosiale kragte
wat kulturele identiteit vorm, te verstaan nie.
Instrumentaliste gee toe dat politieke konflik dalk deur uiteenloopende godsdienstige
tradisies vererger kan word, maar dat dit selde indien ooit daardeur veroorsaak word.
Inteendeel, die meeste konflik handel steeds oor mag en rykdom. Hulle beklemtoon die
rol wat gespeel word deur politieke entrepreneurs, wat geloof as 'n instrument gebruik in
die bevordering van hulle eie doelwitte. Die benadering is skuldig aan die ander uiterste -
die rol van kultuur en godsdiens word as minder belangrik beskou.
Konstruktiviste beskou sosiale konflik as gewortel in kognitiewe strukture soos ideologie,
godsdiens, nasionalisme en etnisiteit. Konstruktiviste kan teoretiseer oor kulturele
identiteit, sosiale strukture, akteurs en kragte saam met die materiële wêreld wat bestaan
uit mag en rykdom, en is daarom die beste geskik om 'n voldoende beskrywing te gee
van godsdiens en politieke konflik. Ten spyte van die belowende potensiaal van
konstruktivisme moet die perspektief nog begin om teorieë oor godsdiens en politieke konflik te verskaf. Die ernstige verwaarloosing van godsdiens in politieke wetenskap
moet ondersoek word en die beste benadering hiervoor blyk konstruktivisme te wees.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97376 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Muller, Helgard Daniel |
| Contributors | Nel, P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 124 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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