Religion model of authoritarian control
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Religion as a Model of Authoritarian Control
Introduction to Authoritarian Control and Religion
Authoritarian regimes often employ various strategies to maintain control over civil society, and religion frequently plays a pivotal role in these strategies. Understanding how authoritarian governments manipulate religious institutions and beliefs can provide critical insights into the broader mechanisms of authoritarian control.
Co-optation and Repression of Religion
Authoritarian regimes typically use a combination of co-optation and repression to manage religious groups. Co-optation involves the positive endorsement of religion to align religious institutions with state goals, while repression includes negative restrictions to curb religious influence that might challenge the regime. This dual approach allows regimes to harness the social influence of religion while simultaneously suppressing dissent.
Securitization and Delegitimization
In some cases, authoritarian regimes use religion as a tool for securitization and delegitimization of opposition groups. For instance, Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) under the Erdoğanist regime framed the Gülen Movement as an existential threat, using religious rhetoric to justify violent and repressive actions against its members. Similarly, the ruling AKP in Turkey has used religious narratives to delegitimize Kurdish opposition by labeling them as terrorists and justifying repressive policies on religious grounds.
Digital Authoritarianism and Religious Populism
The intersection of digital authoritarianism and religious populism is another significant aspect of how religion is used to maintain control. In Turkey, the ruling AKP has linked Islamist values to state policies to justify repressive control over digital technology. This strategy involves various levels of internet governance and the instrumentalization of religious populism to consolidate support and validate the government's autocratic agenda.
Managing Religion: Upgrading and Enclavement
Bryan S. Turner's concept of managing religion includes two main approaches: upgrading and enclavement. Upgrading refers to the modernization or partial secularization of religious institutions, while enclavement involves isolating certain religious communities. These strategies are adapted by states based on the context and the challenges posed by religious revival.
Religion and Authoritarian Personality
The relationship between religion and authoritarianism is also explored through the lens of personality and social environment. Psychologists argue that deference to authority is a personality-driven variable, while sociologists contend that it is shaped by social interactions, including religious influences. Despite extensive research, a unified theory of religious authority remains elusive.
Religion as a Source of Morality and Social Control
Religion serves as a crucial source of morality and social control, reinforcing the edicts of secular authorities or providing a basis for dissent and new social controls. In societies transitioning from traditional to urban industrial settings, popular religion and its moral codes have often played a key role in maintaining social order without resorting to authoritarian rule.
Conclusion
The manipulation of religion by authoritarian regimes is multifaceted, involving co-optation, repression, securitization, and digital control. By understanding these strategies, we can gain deeper insights into the complex dynamics of authoritarian control and the pivotal role religion plays in maintaining or challenging such regimes.
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