Research Full Article

UDC 322.2

Abstract. The article explores the phenomenon of politicization of religious identities within the framework of globalization, which, contrary to classical secularization theories, does not lead to the marginalization of religion but fosters its return to the public sphere. Particular attention is given to theoretical approaches to the understanding of religious identity, its transformations, and political potential, including the concept of the post-secular society. Based on comparative political analysis and regional case studies (the Middle East, Europe, South Asia, Russia, and the post-Soviet space), the study identifies the main mechanisms and forms of politicization: electoral mobilization, instrumentalization of religious symbols, and the conflictogenic potential of religion. It is demonstrated that globalization generates ambivalent trends: on the one hand, strengthening hybridization of identities and cosmopolitan processes, while on the other, stimulating fundamentalist and nationalist reactions. Special focus is given to the Russian context, where Orthodoxy and Islam play a central role in shaping national and regional identities. The conclusion highlights the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of religious identities and formulates recommendations for state policy and international cooperation

Keywords: religious identity, politicization, globalization, post-secular society, nationalism, fundamentalism, electoral mobilization, Russia, interethnic relations, cultural identity

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