Political And Socio-Economic Conditions That Are Leading To A Renewed Prominence Of Religion In Contemporary Political Life

 

The process of globalisation has brought about a renewed prominence of religion in contemporary political life. With profound impacts in the political, economic, and cultural spheres, the process of globalisation has not seen a reduction in religion in the public sphere as some scholars have suggested. Rather, religion has been increasingly utilised as a source of support and founding of personal identity, as an explanation for the process of globalisation and the individual’s position in the world, and as a tool for initiating political change in the contemporary era.
The first part of this essay will define the key political and socio-economic conditions that are leading to a renewed prominence in religion in contemporary political life in general, explaining how these conditions are doing.

so. It will make particular reference to the case of the religion of Islam, first discussing how the secularisation of the state has led to a renewed prominence in religion. Secondly, it will discuss how the process of globalisation, resulting in a general increase in population, has increased the burden on the state to provide adequate welfare to the citizen, which in some cases the state has failed to do, leading to a renewed prominence in religion as individuals search for alternative sources of security in religion. Thirdly, it will discuss how the imposition of the global capitalist economy has created the socio-economic condition of material inequality, which has led to a renewed prominence in religion as religion has served as a support network, an explanation for such a situation and as a source of hope.
Lastly, it will examine the case of the rise of Islamism, exploring the political and socio-economic conditions that are leading to its renewed prominence.