The Roles of Religion in National Legitimation

Judaism and Zionism's Elusive Quest for Legitimacy

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2287705
AutoresUriel Abulof (0000-0002-5926-732X, LISD, Woodrow Wilson School Princeton University, autor correspondente)
Ano2014
Volume53
Fascículo3
Páginas515-533
Data de publicação2014-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0021-8294 • E-ISSN: 1468-5906
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jssr.12132
OpenAlexW1565940287
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas14
Referências citadas57

Why and how do nations turn to religion to justify claims for statehood? This article addresses this question in both theory and practice, showing that religion plays multiple legitimating roles that shift dynamically according to the success they yield for national movements. I posit four legitimating models: (1) nationalism instead of religion ('secular nationalism'), (2) nationalism as a religion ('civil religion'), (3) religion as a resource for nationalism ('auxiliary religion'), and (4) religion as a source of nationalism ('chosen people'). Empirically, I analyze the roles of religion in Zionist efforts to legitimate a Jewish state in Palestine. I argue that Zionism has responded to persistent delegitimation by expanding the role of religion in its political legitimation. The right of self-determination, which stands at the core of the 'secular Zionism' legitimation, has given way to leveraging Judaism, which in turn has been eclipsed by constructing a Zionist civil religion and a 'chosen people' justification

Jewish state · Judaism · Legitimacy · Legitimation · Nationalism · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Theology · Zionism · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious studies · Turkey's Politics and Society