Encountering Different Cultures: Concords and Frictions in Pre-colonial, Colonial and Post-colonial Sri Lanka
Today’s world is characterized by global and local polarization, rising mistrust and the fear of the «other», and increasingly de-humanizing languages among identity groups. This phenomenon is not unique to this epoch. Following a brief geographical, demographic, and historical overview of Sri Lanka...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2020
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| In: |
Annali di studi religiosi
Year: 2020, Volume: 21, Pages: 215-241 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Today’s world is characterized by global and local polarization, rising mistrust and the fear of the «other», and increasingly de-humanizing languages among identity groups. This phenomenon is not unique to this epoch. Following a brief geographical, demographic, and historical overview of Sri Lanka, this paper examines the issue of the multifaceted relations of globalization and cultural (religious and ethnic) conflicts, with particular attention to religious and ethnic factors. The author traces the historical roots of the current situation in Sri Lanka, from the colonial period (Portuguese, Dutch, and British domination) to the post-independence era, highlighting the complex interplay of religion, ethnicity, and politics in the local/global encounter. A special focus is given to the role of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism, to the rise of rival Tamil and Muslim funda-mentalisms or ethno-religious nationalism, to the crucial «conversion issue» (linked to some Evangelical/Pentecostal and Islamist groups), and to conspiracy theory concerning activities of NGOs. The author concludes calling upon the necessity to build an inclusive identity supplanting the ethnic politics. |
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| ISSN: | 2284-3892 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Annali di studi religiosi
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.14598/ANNALI_STUDI_RELIG_21202016 |