ABSTRACT
In recent decades, much of the increase in religion’s rising political profile is due to the violent conflicts and events attributed to religion. These include the Iranian revolution which was followed by violent Islamic opposition movements in many Muslim-majority countries, including some particularly violent civil wars such as those in Algeria and Afghanistan during the 1990s. This also includes the events of 9/11 which eventually led to the continual clashes between Western, primarily US, forces and Muslim militant groups in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as continued activities by Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and other militant Muslim groups worldwide.
