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

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  • Eran Zaidise
  • Daphna Canetti‐Nisim
  • Ami Pedahzur

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Eran Zaidise & Daphna Canetti‐Nisim & Ami Pedahzur, 2007. "Politics of God or Politics of Man? The Role of Religion and Deprivation in Predicting Support for Political Violence in Israel," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 55(3), pages 499-521, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:55:y:2007:i:3:p:499-521
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9248.2007.00673.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bernadette C. Hayes & Ian McAllister, 2001. "Sowing Dragon’s Teeth: Public Support for Political Violence and Paramilitarism in Northern Ireland," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 49(5), pages 901-922, December.
    2. Wang, T. Y. & Dixon, William J. & Muller, Edward N. & Seligson, Mitchell A., 1993. "Inequality and Political Violence Revisited," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(4), pages 979-993, December.
    3. Pape, Robert A., 2003. "The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 97(3), pages 343-361, August.
    4. Fearon, James D. & Laitin, David D., 2000. "Violence and the Social Construction of Ethnic Identity," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 54(4), pages 845-877, October.
    5. Muller, Edward N., 1972. "A Test of a Partial Theory of Potential for Political Violence," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 66(3), pages 928-959, September.
    6. Grofman, Bernard N. & Muller, Edward N., 1973. "The Strange Case of Relative Gratification and Potential for Political Violence: The V-Curve Hypothesis," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 67(2), pages 514-539, June.
    7. Stathis N. Kalyvas, 1999. "Wanton And Senseless?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 11(3), pages 243-285, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Wolfowicz & Yael Litmanovitz & David Weisburd & Badi Hasisi, 2021. "Cognitive and behavioral radicalization: A systematic review of the putative risk and protective factors," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), September.
    2. Julia Elad-Strenger & Brian J Hall & Stevan E Hobfoll & Daphna Canetti, 2021. "Explaining public support for violence against politicians during conflict: Evidence from a panel study in Israel," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(3), pages 417-432, May.
    3. Rami Zeedan, 2019. "The Role of Military Service in the Integration/Segregation of Muslims, Christians and Druze within Israel," Societies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, January.

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