Berkley Center

This project traces the history of religious nationalism in India and Pakistan and its role/the role of religion generally in state-building for these two countries. It analyzes how big of a role religion was envisioned to play in governance by both nations’ founders, comparing it to contemporary political realities, revealing considerable disparities. It discusses the intermingling of government and religion through a legal lens while exploring how religion has been used for political ends. It argues that current religiopolitical landscapes are different from what the founders of both countries envisioned, emphasizing a far greater role for religion than originally planned. It also contends that the rise of religious nationalism (and the broader politicization of religion) has inflamed communal tensions, eroded minority rights and security, caused democratic backsliding in India and Pakistan, as well as had pernicious impacts on foreign policy and regional stability.