Religious nationalism is the belief that a country’s historically dominant religion should be central to its national identity and governance. The concept varies by country, with leaders like India’s Narendra Modi and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu aligning their policies with religious values. However, no universal definition exists, making it challenging to measure religious nationalism consistently.
To address this, Pew Research Center surveyed nearly 55,000 people in 36 countries from January to May 2024. The study assessed how many people believe their country’s predominant religion is crucial to national identity, want leaders who share their faith, and support religious texts guiding national laws.
Global Prevalence of Religious Nationalism
The study found significant variations in religious nationalism worldwide. In high-income nations like Germany and Sweden, fewer than 1% of adults met the criteria. In contrast, over 40% of adults in Indonesia (46%) and Bangladesh (45%) identified as religious nationalists.
In the United States, only 6% of adults fit Pew’s definition of religious nationalism, similar to Chile (6%), Mexico (8%), and Argentina (8%). However, compared to other high-income countries, Americans were more likely to support the Bible’s influence on laws and believe national leaders should have strong religious beliefs.
Religious Influence in Middle- vs. High-Income Countries
The survey revealed a stark contrast between middle- and high-income countries regarding religion’s role in society. Middle-income nations were more likely to view religion as beneficial, fostering tolerance rather than superstition. In these countries, majorities supported religious texts influencing laws and valued leaders who shared their faith.
For example, 94% of Bangladeshis said religion helps society, compared to 42% of Swedes. Similarly, in Kenya, Malaysia, and Indonesia, religious nationalism was more common, with around one-third or more of the population identifying with the ideology.
Demographics and Political Correlations
The study found that religious nationalism was more prevalent among older adults, less-educated individuals, and those with lower incomes. People on the ideological right were also more likely to support religious nationalism. In Poland, for example, 10% of those who favored the right-wing Law and Justice Party identified as religious nationalists, compared to 1% of those who opposed it.
In Israel, religious nationalism was highest among Haredi and Dati Jews (33%) compared to Masorti (5%) and Hiloni Jews (1%). Similarly, in India, 27% of daily-praying individuals identified as religious nationalists, compared to 17% of less-religious respondents.
Democracy and Religious Identity
Many respondents believed their country could be both democratic and religious. In Muslim-majority nations like Bangladesh (86%) and Malaysia (80%), large majorities supported this idea. In Israel, 73% agreed the country could be both Jewish and democratic. However, in Nigeria, where Muslims do not form an overwhelming majority, only 40% believed the country could be both Islamic and democratic.
While religious nationalism remains a minority view in most countries, it is significantly more prevalent in middle-income nations. The study highlights how economic, political, and cultural factors shape public attitudes toward religion’s role in national identity and governance.
Source:
Comparing Levels of Religious Nationalism Around the World
Photo by James Owen on Unsplash
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