The Role of Religion in Civil Wars [View all]

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Religion often plays an important role in civil wars but is it ever THE precipitating cause behind them? As he explains in today’s Questions and Answers, the CSS’s Owen Frazer doesn’t think so. He sees (and describes) an interplay of factors that drive civil conflicts.

By Owen Frazer for the ISN
6 February 2013

Is there such a thing as a ‘religious’ conflict, or are there simply conflicts with a religious dimension?

If by a ‘religious’ conflict you mean a conflict that is primarily about religion, I think the short answer is no. Of course, in the sense of disagreement or debate, there are “conflicts” within religious movements over interpretation of religious doctrine, etc. However, in the context of civil wars and intrastate conflicts, religious issues per se may indeed be factors in the conflict but they will be just some factors among many. When talking about conflicts there is often an overemphasis on trying to reduce the conflict to one main “root” cause. Doing so only obscures the dynamic and complex nature of most political conflicts.

Religious issues that are part of what the conflict is ‘about’ are only one way in which religion can play a role in conflict. For this reason it can be misleading to speak of conflicts with a religious dimension. It gives an impression that religion is just one part of, or issue in, a conflict and that it can be separated from the other parts. The interplay between religion and the different elements of a conflict is more complex.

When analyzing any conflict it can be helpful to break it down into the three main categories of actors, issues and context and to look at the dynamic interaction between these three categories. Religion can have relevance for each category. Conflict actors can be religiously-inspired (just take for example some of the rebel groups fighting in Mali at the moment), issues can directly relate to religious questions (e.g. to what extent should religious law form the basis of national law), and the wider context can be in part shaped by religious considerations (for example, a history of animosity between different faith groupings or overseas support for particular parties to the conflict based on a shared faith).

In short, conflicts are never only about religion but in some conflicts religious considerations can play an important role at many levels.

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