Faith in Numbers Religion, Sectarianism, and Democracy

Why does religion sometimes increase support for democracy and sometimes do just the opposite? In Faith in Numbers, political scientist Michael Hoffman presents a theory of religion, group interest, and democracy. Focusing on communal religion, he demonstrates that the effect of communal prayer on support for democracy depends on the interests of the religious group in question. For members of groups who would benefit from democracy, communal prayer increases support for democratic institutions; for citizens whose groups would lose privileges in the event of democratic reforms, the opposite effect is present. Using a variety of data sources, Hoffman illustrates these claims in multiple contexts. He places particular emphasis on his study of Lebanon and Iraq, two countries in which sectarian divisions have played a major role in political development, by utilizing both existing and original surveys.

By examining religious and political preferences among both Muslims and non-Muslims in several religiously diverse settings, Faith in Numbers shows that theological explanations of religion and democracy are inadequate. Rather, it demonstrates that religious identities and sectarian interests play a major part in determining regime preferences and illustrates how Islam in particular can be mobilized for both pro- and anti-democratic purposes. It finds that Muslim religious practice is not necessarily anti-democratic; in fact, in a number of settings, practicing Muslims are considerably more supportive of democracy than their secular counterparts. Theological differences alone do not determine whether members of religious groups tend to support or oppose democracy; rather, their participation in communal worship motivates them to view democracy through a sectarian lens.

Michael Hoffman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame.

List of Figures

List of Tables

Introduction

An Interest-Based Theory of Religion and Support for Democracy

The Religious Experience: Communal Prayer and Group Identity

Christians and Muslims in Lebanon Before the Syrian Civil War
Appendices
Appendix 4.A Survey Questions Used
Appendix 4.B Supplementary Tables

After Syria: Communal Religion and Democracy in 2014 Lebanon
Appendices
Appendix 5.A Description of Experiment
Appendix 5.B Description of Variables

Representation or Redistribution? Evidence from Iraq
Appendices
Appendix 6.A Supplementary Tables and Figures

Conclusion: Implications for Religion and Politics
Appendices
Appendix 7.A Additional Information, Cross-National

Notes

Index