cultural defence

bruce

• one function of religion as cultural defence - religion unites a community against an external threat and this often gives it a prominent role in politics.

examples of religion as cultural as cultural defence

• poland

• iran

poland

• Poland was under communist rule imposed from outside by the Soviet Union

• the Catholic Church did not always challenge the communist regime openly, it served as a popular rallying point for opposition

• Solidarity free trade union movement that contributed to the fall of communism

iran

• Western capitalist powers and oil companies had long had influence in Iran

• pro-Western regime headed by the Shah

• successor embarked on a policy of rapid modernisation and Westernisation.

• focus for resistance to change

• 1979 revolution brought the creation of the Islamic Republic

• clergy held state power and were able to impose Islamic Shari’a law.