Religious Conflicts in the 20th Century

Religious Conflicts During the 20th Century

Religious conflicts have been part of human history since ancient times. However, they became more prominent during the 20th century due to various factors such as globalization, nationalism, political ideologies, and demographic changes. This section will discuss some of the major religious conflicts that took place throughout the 20th century.

Middle East

The Middle East region was particularly volatile during the 20th century with several conflicts occurring between different religions and sects. One notable conflict was the Iraqi Civil War from 1978 to 1982 when the Sunni minority attempted to overthrow the Shia government. Another significant conflict was the Iranian Revolution which began in 1978, leading to the establishment of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.

India and Pakistan

India's independence in August 1947 led to religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. As the British withdrew their military presence, widespread violence broke out across North India, resulting in millions of displaced civilians and the death toll estimated between 200,000 and two million people.

Balkans

In the former Yugoslavia, ethnic and religious rivalries contributed to violent conflict beginning in 1991. The conflict between Serbs (Orthodox Christians) and Bosnians (Muslims and Catholics) led to the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995.

Northern Ireland

Religious tensions between Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland led to "The Troubles," a conflict that lasted from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. This conflict was primarily driven by Catholic demands for civil rights and Protestant fears of a loss of power.

Rwanda

In Rwanda, the Tutsi minority, many of whom were Christians, dominated the government until the Hutu majority, who were mostly Catholic, came to power in 1959. The Tutsi's were then targeted and killed in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's civil war was fought between the majority Sinhalese Buddhists and the minority Tamils, most of whom were Hindu. The conflict lasted from 1983 to 2009.

These conflicts were not only driven by religious differences but also by other factors such as nationalism, political ideologies, and demographic changes. Despite the efforts of various international organizations to promote peace and reconciliation, religious conflicts continue to plague many parts of the world, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and sustained approach to prevent and resolve such conflicts.