'Sectarianism' and Its Discontents in the Study of the Middle East

This article offers a critical examination of the vocabulary associated with the study of 'sectarianism' in the Middle East. It surveys Arabic- and English-language works on 'sectarianism' to illustrate how the term's lack of definition has allowed it to be used in contradic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Middle East journal Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 363 - 382
Main Author Haddad, Fanar
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Middle East Institute 01.08.2017
Subjects
21st century
Arabic language
Criminalization
Debates
English language
Identity
Mobilization
Political dissent
Political systems
Politics
Religion
Religious identity
Scholars
Sectarian violence
Sectarianism
Sociopolitical factors
Stigma
Vocabulary
Middle East
Iraq
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Summary:This article offers a critical examination of the vocabulary associated with the study of 'sectarianism' in the Middle East. It surveys Arabic- and English-language works on 'sectarianism' to illustrate how the term's lack of definition has allowed it to be used in contradictory ways that render it, not simply meaningless, but distortive to our understanding of the region. In addition, the term 'sectarianism', with its inescapably negative connotations, has been used as a tool to neutralize political dissent and stigmatize people's religious identity and otherwise legitimate acts of expression and mobilization.
Bibliography:0026-3141(20170801)71:3L.363;1-
ISSN:0026-3141
1940-3461
DOI:10.3751/71.3.12