Beyond belief: How religion fosters self‐determination

Abstract

Religious conflicts are an enduring feature of domestic and international politics. This article offers the first systematic quantitative treatment of religion in nationalist demands for autonomy or independence on a global scale. I argue that subnational groups capitalizing on mobilization advantages from sacred land are more likely to demand self-rule. Sacred places link collective identities to the contested territory, which is the main conflict issue in self-determination demands. I rely on data on sacred land and religious identification of subnational groups worldwide and compare claimants and non-claiming groups to capture the effect of sacred land on self-determination. The analysis supports the expectation that sacred land and religious identities are closely linked to demand incidence. The findings shed light on the understudied relation between religion and selfdetermination and improve our understanding of the significance of sacred places on a global comparative scale.