Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist ideology requires a manufactured enemy to mobilize and survive

Evidence

Political Buddhism and Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism have played leading roles in Sri Lanka, especially since the 1956 elections. The only exception was the short period following S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s assassination, when the country debated bhikkhus’ involvement in politics. Buddhist monks will continue to play a pivotal role in Sri Lankan politics unless drastic changes take place within the sangha. So will Buddhist nationalists, whose influence has now reached new heights. Once the LTTE’s separatist struggle is neutralized, Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists may even renew campaigns against Christians and Muslims, for their ideology is fundamentally antiminority and requires agitprop to mobilize and survive. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 303

Categorization

• XREF: Directly speaks to the reading purpose: what happens to a threat-hardened solidarity when the original enemy (LTTE) is neutralized — the ideology manufactures new enemies (Christians, Muslims). Connects to Naim’s argument about manufactured external enemies being substitutable. — connects to: Sinhalese nationalist ideology frames NGOs as foreign conspirators aiding the enemy — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 217; Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism manufactures substitute enemies when its primary one is absent — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 245; Defeating the LTTE may strengthen rather than soften Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist dominance — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 302 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• The nationalist ideology needs a manufactured enemy to mobilize #corroborates (0.98) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 303