Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities

Religious Conflict in Contemporary Sri Lanka

Nonfiction, History, Asian, India, Religion & Spirituality, Eastern Religions, Buddhism
Cover of the book Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities by , Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9780190624408
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: September 30, 2016
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9780190624408
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: September 30, 2016
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

When the civil war in Sri Lanka between Sinhala Buddhists and Tamils ended in 2009, many Sri Lankans and foreign observers alike hoped to see the re-establishment of relatively harmonious religious and ethnic relations among the various communities in the country. Instead, a different type of violence erupted, this time aimed at the Muslim community. The essays in Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities investigate the history and current state of Buddhist-Muslim relations in Sri Lanka, in an attempt to identify the causes of this newly emergent conflict. Euro-American readers unfamiliar with this story will be surprised to learn that it inverts common stereotypes of the two religious groups. In this context, certain groups of Buddhists, generally considered peace-oriented in the West, are engaged in victimizing Muslims, who are increasingly seen as militant. The authors examine the historical contexts and substantive reasons that gave rise to Buddhist nationalism and aggressive attacks on Muslim communities. The rise of Buddhist nationalism in general is analyzed and explained, while the specific role, methods, and character of the militant Bodu Bala Sena ("Army of Buddhist Power") movement receive particular scrutiny. The motivations for attacks on Muslims may include deep-seated perceptions of economic disparity, but elements of religious culture (ritual and symbol) are also seen as catalysts for explosive acts of violence. This much-needed, timely commentary promises to shift the standard narrative on Muslims and religious violence.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

When the civil war in Sri Lanka between Sinhala Buddhists and Tamils ended in 2009, many Sri Lankans and foreign observers alike hoped to see the re-establishment of relatively harmonious religious and ethnic relations among the various communities in the country. Instead, a different type of violence erupted, this time aimed at the Muslim community. The essays in Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities investigate the history and current state of Buddhist-Muslim relations in Sri Lanka, in an attempt to identify the causes of this newly emergent conflict. Euro-American readers unfamiliar with this story will be surprised to learn that it inverts common stereotypes of the two religious groups. In this context, certain groups of Buddhists, generally considered peace-oriented in the West, are engaged in victimizing Muslims, who are increasingly seen as militant. The authors examine the historical contexts and substantive reasons that gave rise to Buddhist nationalism and aggressive attacks on Muslim communities. The rise of Buddhist nationalism in general is analyzed and explained, while the specific role, methods, and character of the militant Bodu Bala Sena ("Army of Buddhist Power") movement receive particular scrutiny. The motivations for attacks on Muslims may include deep-seated perceptions of economic disparity, but elements of religious culture (ritual and symbol) are also seen as catalysts for explosive acts of violence. This much-needed, timely commentary promises to shift the standard narrative on Muslims and religious violence.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Southern Lady, Yankee Spy by
Cover of the book Fighting Unemployment by
Cover of the book Free Will: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide by
Cover of the book Devouring Japan by
Cover of the book Peripheral Neuropathies in Clinical Practice by
Cover of the book The Life Cycles of the Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency by
Cover of the book The Melody of Time by
Cover of the book The Triumph of Sociobiology by
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Narrative by
Cover of the book Muslims on the Americanization Path? by
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Edgar Allan Poe by
Cover of the book Trust in Social Dilemmas by
Cover of the book Religious Outsiders and the Making of Americans by
Cover of the book Evolution of Infectious Disease by
Cover of the book Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974 by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy