Religious Thought and Political Identity in Regional Crises: A Comparative Study of Sunni and Shiʿi Islamic Movements in Iraq and Syria (2011–2024)
Hamdon, Hani Mefleh O

Abstract
This study explores the nexus between religious thought and political identity within the context of regional crises through a comparative analysis of Sunni and Shiʿi Islamic movements in Iraq and Syria from 2011 to 2024. The research is divided into two main sections. The first addresses the conceptual framework of religious thought and political identity, while the second analyzes the religious-political discourse of both Sunni and Shiʿi movements post-2011. The study employs critical analytical, comparative, and case study methodologies to develop an integrated understanding of how religious ideology shape's political identity amidst prolonged regional conflicts. Key findings reveal that both Sunni and Shiʿi discourses have undergone significant politicization, using religious narratives as tools of political and military mobilization. Religious authorities have been instrumentalized to serve nationalist or regional agendas, exacerbating sectarian tensions and deepening communal divides. The study concludes by advocating for a reformed religious discourse that promotes national unity and citizenship values across educational curricula and media platforms.

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