Politics of God or Politics of Man? The Role of Religion and Deprivation in Predicting Support for Political Violence in Israel

This study examines the associations between religious affiliation and religiosity and support for political violence through a nationwide sample of Israeli Jews and Muslims. Based on structural equation modeling, the findings show that by and large Muslims are more supportive of political violence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Political studies 2007-10, Vol.55 (3), p.499-521
Main Authors: Zaidise, Eran, Canetti-Nisim, Daphna, Pedahzur, Ami
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Deprivation
God
Israel
Jewish people
Jews
Muslims
Political support
Political Violence
Religion & politics
Religion and politics
Religion Politics Relationship
Religiosity
Religious institutions
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomic Status
Spirituality
Violence
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Summary:This study examines the associations between religious affiliation and religiosity and support for political violence through a nationwide sample of Israeli Jews and Muslims. Based on structural equation modeling, the findings show that by and large Muslims are more supportive of political violence than Jews and more religious persons are less supportive of political violence. Deprivation, however, was found to mediate these relations, showing that the more deprived – whether Muslims or Jews, religious or non-religious persons – are more supportive of political violence. The explanatory strength of religion and deprivation combined in this manner was found to be stronger than any of these variables on their own. The findings cast doubt on negative stereotypes both of Islam and of religiosity as promoting political violence. They suggest that governments which want peace at home, in Israel as elsewhere, would do well to ensure that ethnic and religious differences are not translated into, and compounded by, wide socio-economic gaps.
ISSN:0032-3217
1467-9248
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9248.2007.00673.x