Definition
Sectarianism is the division of a society along the lines of religious sects or rival branches of a single faith, in which membership in one group becomes a basis for loyalty, suspicion, or hostility toward the others. The word originally describes splits within a religion, such as between branches of Christianity or of Islam.
It is more than mere theological disagreement. Sectarianism arises when doctrinal difference is linked to political power, economic advantage, and social status, so that the divide structures everyday life.
Why it matters
How it works
Sectarianism becomes self-reinforcing once group identity governs access to jobs, security, and representation. People rely on their own sect for protection, which deepens segregation and mistrust. Each act of discrimination or violence supplies new grievances that confirm the divide.
Political systems can either dampen or inflame this dynamic. Power-sharing arrangements and cross-cutting institutions reduce the stakes of sectarian identity, while winner-take-all politics and exclusion intensify it.