The politics of identity and sectarianism
By: Fanar Haddad, Lisel Hintz, Rima Majed, Toby Matthiesen, Bassel F Salloukh, Alexandra A Siegel
Abstract: The 2011 popular uprisings left an indelible mark on the politics of identityÌýin the Middle East. Minority- based regimes, such as Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy and Syria’s Alawi- led republic, weaponized sectarian differences toÌýcrush democratic opposition against their rule. Regional powers like SaudiÌýArabia and Iran deployed sectarian discourse to mobilize same- sect proxiesÌýand intervene in the local politics of shattered states like Syria and Yemen. AtÌýthis revolutionary juncture, it appeared that sectarian sentiments had comeÌýto dominate the regional public sphere, shaping how individuals and groupsÌýcongregated for political purposes. Yet not a decade later, a far differentÌýimage emerged. In 2019, Lebanese and Iraqis of varying identities mobilizedÌýin national protest against political systems organized around sectarian lines.ÌýThey targeted institutionalized corruption, economic deprivation, and political venality— all of whichwere produced by confessional politics enshrinedÌýwithin exclusive power- sharing arrangements and neoliberal economicÌýstructures.1
These relatively recent moments follow a familiar pattern: political eventsÌýin the Middle East are often tied to sectarian concerns that can appear baffling to researchers of comparative politics and international relations. It isÌýhigh time that scholars tackle this issue in order to bridge the gap betweenÌýregional knowledge and mainstream political science. Sectarianism hereÌýmeans the politicization of sectarian differences.2 This topic is integral withinÌýthe MENA to understanding how social forces engage one another, how stateÌýauthorities deal with demands from below, how capitalism operates in relation to identity politics, and how regional conflicts can take massive turns forÌýthe worse.
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