User:V Contemplative Scribe

Sectarian violence or sectarian strife is a form of communal violence which is inspired by sectarianism, that is, discrimination, hatred or prejudice between different sects of a particular mode of an ideology or different sects of a religion within a nation or community. Religious segregation often plays a role in sectarian violence. The concept can be applied to both inter- as well as intra-group violence and is context dependent for instance considering political, social, and cultural factors (Reference). Prominent strategies debated within peace and conflict studies for ending violence – including sectarian forms of it - are the Inter-group contact theory and the liberal peace theory.

Conceptual Dynamics of Sectarian Violence

A sect, in one of its oldest definitions by Max Weber, is a form of social-religious grouping that co-exists along the church as an institution (REFERENCE). Sectarianism therefore is the adherence to one of such groups based on the religious values that one ascribes to them. This therefore constitutes religious sectarianism. However, sectarianism does not need to be attached to religion per se. It can also be connected to a moralised identification with a political group (REFERENCE) which would thereby transform it into political sectarianism. Both definitions therefore entail the creation of an in- and out-group perspective that hinges upon identification.

Furthermore, such groups are not necessarily homogenous in their internal opinions or characteristics. The differences within and among these groups makes then susceptible to conflict both across and within groups. For instance, as according to Raymond Hinnebusch, a patrimonial regime within a multi-sectarian society may favour elites which in turn may exploit sectarian dynamics to foster inter-sectarian conflict (REFERENCE) which in turn would lead to inter-sectarian violence. On the other hand, exploiting the differences within one such group could thereby insist internal divide and intra-sectarian violence. This difference can therefore also influence how and why violence emerges and can shape the character of resulting conflict.

More generally, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute:

Traditionally, sectarian violence implies a symmetrical confrontation between two or more non-state actors representing different population groups.

Sectarian violence differs from the concept of race riot. It may involve the dynamics of social polarization, the balkanization of a geographic area along the lines of self-identifying groups, and protracted social conflict.

The occurrence of sectarian violence is solely based on inert characteristics of sectarianism but is further catalysed by enabling environmental factors of political, economic, social, and cultural nature. Political factors can include reforms which may favour or disadvantage certain groups compared to others, increasing sectarian divide and creating increased potential for sectarian violence such as in the example of Pakistan and its political reforms of the 1970s and 1980s (REFERENCE). Socio-Economic factors can encompass econmic trends favouring sectarian divide such as the policies created by the French Colonial Government of Mandate Syria of the 1920s (REFERENCE). Lastly, cultural factors such as the movement of unarmed european jesuite priests within Lebanon in the late 19th century created a cultural climate in which local sectarian elites were favoured and thereby could exacerbate sectarian divide and the potential for violence among them (REFERENCE).

For further examples see:

• Economic conflict: capitalist versus socialist
• Political conflict: internationalist versus nationalist
• Interreligious conflict:
  • Buddhist
  • Christian
  • Jewish
  • Muslim
• Christian conflict: Catholic versus Protestant
• Islamic conflict: Shia versus Sunni

Strategies for Appeasing Sectarian Violence

Among many theories, two strategies have been prominently debated within contemporary peace and conflict studies regarding the ending of violence and the creation of peace: The Inter-Group Contact Theory and Liberal Peace Theory. Both strategies are examples of approaches and do not signify an exhaustive nor always reliable list of solutions to sectarian violence.

Inter-Group Contact

The theory of inter-group contact posits that through increased social interaction amongst (formerly) conflicting groups, their enmity may be decreased. An example that has been cited within contemporary research of religious sectarian violence is the case of Northern Ireland and the engagement in programs to foster new connections between catholic and protestant youth (REFERENCES).

Liberal Peace Theory

Liberal peace theory assumes that through the liberalisation of conflict societies, which at its core necessitates the anchoring of liberal values within such societies, the tendency for conflict by violent means may be decreased. A prominent example for this strategy is the case of Bosnia and Herzigovina and the establishment of democratically modelled institutions after its internal conflict after 1995 (REFERENCE).