CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020
| Author | Amjad, Syeda Mahnoor |
|---|---|
| Title | The Business of Religion and Politics: The Inevitable Oppression of the Ahmadis in Pakistani Regimes |
| Summary | How do different regimes manage majority-minority relations in non-secular systems, and does regime type have an effect on the treatment of religious minorities? The literature has demonstrated that majority-minority religious conflicts occur as a consequence of an instrumentalized difference, rather than an innate attribute to religion. Religious instrumentalization for political means is exacerbated in weak political frameworks. Through the lens of the political economy of religion, the thesis argues that minority accommodation varies based on regime type and strength. It looks at the Pakistani case and the treatment of the Ahmadi community by both military and civilian regimes. It tests whether the strength and type of regime impact the role of religion in society and the political instrumentalization of religion. To ascertain how Pakistani regimes ranging from 1947-2020 differ and resemble in their minority accommodation, the empirical section employs the historical process tracing (PT) method, paired with interview data from 27 Ahmadis from all over Pakistan. The findings show that regime strength plays a more important role than its type in determining the politicization of religion. Religion’s instrumental use for political purposes plays an integral role in excluding religious minorities. |
| Supervisor | Sata, Robert |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2020/amjad_syeda-mahnoor.pdf |
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