The widespread use of religiously inspired political appeals can be detected in places as diverse as Turkey, Latin America, Western Europe, and the post-Soviet states. India is not alone in facing the challenges that accompany religious nationalism: many democracies worldwide are witnessing a rise in such political movements. 1 Political developments in India, therefore, are likely to have broader repercussions throughout South Asia and across the democratic world. As the world’s largest democracy, India is home to one-quarter of the world’s voters and one-sixth of humanity.
Few cases are more worthy of greater study than India-thanks both to its size and its democratic longevity. In recent years, religiously inspired nationalist movements have gained prominence in several countries around the world.
