Religion, Violence and Political Mobilisation in South Asia

An oft-neglected theme in studies on communal violence is the role of the state, particularly of its institutions of law enforcement and policing. Recent experience with religion-based violence in South Asia-particularly, the 2002 riots in Gujarat-has brought into sharp focus this relationship between communal violence and partisan state institutions. These major incidents clearly seem to have done away with the state's assumed role as a neutral arbiter between communities, and revealed instead a more openly ethnicised majoritarian stance.

Ravinder Kaur is Research Fellow at International Development Studies, Roskilde University, Denmark