ABSTRACT
Disillusionment with the results of independence coincided with a larger, global phenomenon that surprised political elites and political analysts alike in the last third of the twentieth century. Contrary to the assumptions of most politicians and the theories of social scientists, distinctly religious themes began to color political discourse in many societies. The growing influence of religion in politics occurred in several regions of the world, whether they were predominantly Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or Hindu, and whether they were “developed” or “undeveloped.” One of the most intriguing elements shared by all of the religious movements responsible for this phenomenon was that, although they claimed to be promoting the authentic, original form of their religions, their doctrines and practices were distinctly new, original, and imbued with modern assumptions.
