Religious discrimination and religious armed conflict in sub-Saharan Africa: an obvious relationship?

Abstract

Relative deprivation theory suggests that discrimination increases the risk of violence. While religious armed conflicts have been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, effects of religious discrimination have rarely been investigated. Using the new Religion and State dataset and other sources, this contribution investigates this question in a two-level analysis. The analysis yields three main results. First, religious discrimination has been increasing over the last 15 years but in interregional comparison sub-Saharan Africa has a low level of discrimination. Second, at the crosscountry level there is a significant correlation between religious discrimination and armed conflict over religious content. Third, looking closer at four pertinent country cases (the Comoros, the Gambia, Mali and Mauritania) reveals that discrimination is probably not a direct driver of religious conflicts. High levels of discrimination are embedded in problematic state-religion relations and existing cleavages become mobilised along religious lines through transnational influences and geography.

Indices of Conflict Triggers in Femi Ajewole’s Theatrical Performances in Oyo State, Southwest, Nigeria

“…A religious conflict is usually induced or morphed by religion. Basedau & Schaefer-Kehnert, (2019); Danjibo & Okolie-Osemene (2018), and Henne & Klocek (2017), among other scholars have also concurred that religious conflicts are value-based and have the potential to degenerate to very destructive human behaviours, leading to physical and psychological harm.…”

Understanding Conflicts with Religious Dimensions in their Transnational Interrelations

“…A few of the most wide-ranging studies on the involvement of religion in conflict with a regional and international dimension involve Matthias Basedau. (Basedau and Schaefer-Kehnert 2019;Basedau et al 2016) Yet, while especially Basedau emphasizes the need for a comprehensive framework which allows to take into account the many non-religious factors that a distinct dimension of religion interacts with, it remains within the realm of positivism and is not able to grasp the genuine character of religion. After all, any social dynamics involving religion derive from the individual relationship with the sacred (Riesebrodt 2010, 2-5;Appleby 2000).…”

Discordant Beliefs and Conflict Avoidance among Islamic Sects in North-Western Nigeria

“…Triandis (2013) studied violence in Islam;Olojo (2014) analysed the frames of religious violent conflicts in Nigeria while Basedau et al (2011) investigated the place of religion in armed conflict. Hamza (2020) was interested in understanding violent conflicts among different sects in Islam while Basedau (2019) investigated the relationship between religious discrimination and religious armed conflict.…”