Research Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS) Strategic Studies Quarterly 1735-0727 7 24 2004 09 01 A Sociological Study of Religious Sectarianism and Its Impact on Political Order and Stability A Sociological Study of Religious Sectarianism and Its Impact on Political Order and Stability 233 253 1023 FA Ebrahim Hajiani Journal Article 2004 05 30 Religion has always been the strongest factor in the creation of order and stability in various dimensions of socio-political relations. Religious beliefs have ensured the continuity of communities through giving meaning to collective life and regulating group relations. Nonetheless, religion is prone to interpretation. Thus it is the historical root of the formation of different denominations, sects and groups which result in social schism and political instability. In such conditions, the split groups usually seek to create a smaller community from national society and disrupt the process of social integration.   This article, while acknowledging the regulatory and integrative functions of religious cults, just examines and explains disruptive effects of religious sectarianism on the process of the establishment of political order and stability from a sociological perspective. This article tests the hypothesis that religious sectarianism is a soft threat to the political stability and constitutes groundwork for the rise of violence in the society.On this basis, sects as the social opposition of the political establishment, play a crucial role in the weakening of political unity and in undermining the foundations of government’s legitimacy. These groups may affect the foreign policy of the state and cause foreign provocation against the existing state. Religion has always been the strongest factor in the creation of order and stability in various dimensions of socio-political relations. Religious beliefs have ensured the continuity of communities through giving meaning to collective life and regulating group relations. Nonetheless, religion is prone to interpretation. Thus it is the historical root of the formation of different denominations, sects and groups which result in social schism and political instability. In such conditions, the split groups usually seek to create a smaller community from national society and disrupt the process of social integration.   This article, while acknowledging the regulatory and integrative functions of religious cults, just examines and explains disruptive effects of religious sectarianism on the process of the establishment of political order and stability from a sociological perspective. This article tests the hypothesis that religious sectarianism is a soft threat to the political stability and constitutes groundwork for the rise of violence in the society.On this basis, sects as the social opposition of the political establishment, play a crucial role in the weakening of political unity and in undermining the foundations of government’s legitimacy. These groups may affect the foreign policy of the state and cause foreign provocation against the existing state. https://quarterly.risstudies.org/article_1023_ce5140df15d046a66883807d18d0264b.pdf