POLITICAL SCIENCE

PRESENTATION

RELIGION & COMPARATIVE

POLITICS
HOW RELIGION IS RELATED TO POLITICS
Politics and religion are twins. It’s a product of human greed and power hunger.
Both boasts of orators who can produce hell or heaven as may be required by the
occasions. Religions create GOD where as Politics selects GOD. Religion promises
heaven after death, politics shows hell before death. Politics uses science as a
fearsome tool, Religion abuses science for the fools. Is there a religion in the
universe without politics? or politics without religion? The answer is NO. It’s we
at fault because we relate them, the politicians relate them. Religion is something
that is a common point of interest for over millions of people. The politicians start
accessing this common point for votes as there are religious followers at this point.
It helps them to gain the masses quickly of a particular community.
 nEED FOR STUDY
The past 2 decades have seen an increase in the study of how
religion affects politics in India and around the world. Social
scientists believed religion to be declining in influence to the
point that it might eventually be marginalised. However
political scientists observe the importance of Hindus in India
and the increasing influence of extremists of other religions
leading to events such as Anti- Sikh riots, Babri demolition and
Bombay riots. Scholars have made to understanding of religion
and politics from Comparative perspective. Although India is
worth examining because it is unique, the paper will touch on
it only briefly. Analysing religion and politics from
comparative perspective makes the analysis more complex.
 EVOLUTION OF
RELIGION THEORY
Religion has always been important to people and has capacity
to influence how they live their lives. Religion has always had
and continues to a personal connection and as well as in politics
which acts as powerful motivator. There have been many
theories of religion, to find out connection b/w people, religion
and politics. But the major drawback of this theory was that
these theories were based on self perspective. There were
various theories that why people mostly choose a candidate of
their religion, why religion is so effective in field of politics?
 THE SECULARISATION
THEORY
Secularisation Theory refers to a process in which religion loses social,
cultural and political significance as a result role of religion in society is
restricted. The dominant pattern in the social sciences through the
most of the 20th century centred on the idea that religion was headed
towards extinction as a political force. Eventually, this idea was
formalised into The Secularisation Theory. Many sociologists said that
reason and scientific developments and bureaucratic specialisation
were among factors that would destroy religion as political influence
and this theory was dominant for long period of time. Challenges from
political scientists in 1970s brought it’s downfall.
 RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
Religion in India is home to many religious movements. From
demanding rights to separate country, India has tolerated everything.
But the main reason of these movements is Political reforms and
decisions. The best example of this is the OPERATION BLUE STAR,
which was mischievous blunder by the then Prime Minister. This
operation hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs and their demand for
Khalistan was on another level after that. Other such example is
residents of J&K denying themselves as citizens of India. It’s time that
politicians to protect the rights of individuals and do everything
possible for the betterment of public rather than taking unnecessary
decisions which hurt their religious sentiments, feelings and violate
their rights.
 SCOPE OF THEORY
Theory that explains the relationship between religion and politics
all over the world and especially in India is nothing but
problematic. The scope of Secularisation Theory in India was very
bleak from the very beginning. Various political scientists saw
religion as a major aspect of global action that changed the society.
According to Huntington, religion and other ethnic factors divide
the world. If we talk about India, religion divides it into 4 categories
i.e. Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians. This took Indian politics
to a different path. It just divided politics that led to formation of
religious political parties in different states.
FEW RELIGIOUS PARTIES OF
INDIA
 FUTURE RESEARCH
The possibility for future research in this field are
immeasurable. Religion is and will remain an important factor
in politics in India. Most of the research done regarding politics
and religion has focused on ethnicity. Although this research is
important but focus on ethnicity can marginalise the perceived
impact of religion.The main difference b/w Religion and Ethnic
group is that Religion generally has formal institutions where as
Ethnic groups are less organised and does not have supreme
authority which religion has. This is the reason why there is
definite need for strong focus on religious aspects as well.
 CONCLUSION
The field of religion and comparative politics is as
strong as it has ever been. A tremendous amount of
work has been done in the past 20 years. However,
there is still a lot of extremely important work to do.
Most of the conflicts around India have some sort of
religious overtone. If the people of Punjab or
Rajasthan understands how people follow traditions
and religion or how they operate society in South
Indian states.
THANK YOU

BY
GURPUNEET SINGH