Right-wing nationalism, populism, and religion: what are the connections and why?

ABSTRACT

This collection focuses on right-wing nationalism, populism, and religion, both theoretically and empirically, with an emphasis on the following countries: Australia, India, Italy, Turkey, and the USA. Although not the same thing, nationalism and populism are said to be closely linked. Nationalists, like populists, may claim that there is but one ‘true religion’ – that is, their own and their followers’ – which helps focus their nationalist vision. They bring religion and culture into their arguments to encourage political changes in their favour. Nationalists may identify and target those they see as ‘enemies of the people’, said to be a serious threat to fulfilment of a nationalist future free from culturally ‘alien’ influences. While linking nationalism with religion is not new, what is more novel is the connecting of religion, nationalism, and populism. The contributions to this collection explore these issues theoretically, conceptually, and empirically.

KEYWORDS:

• Nationalism
• nationalists
• populism
• populists
• religion
• Islam

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey Haynes

Jeffrey Haynes is Emeritus Professor of Politics at London Metropolitan University, London, UK. He is author or editor of 55 books. The most recent are Trump and the Politics of Neo-Nationalism. The Christian Right and Secular Nationalism in America, London: Routledge, 2021; Peace, Politics, and Religion (ed.), Basel: MDPI, 2020; and Religion, Conflict and Post-Secular Politics, London: Routledge, 2020.