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Myths and prestige in Hindu nationalist politics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

Radha Sarkar Open the ORCID record for Radha Sarkar [Opens in a new window]  and
Amar Sarkar Open the ORCID record for Amar Sarkar [Opens in a new window]
Radha Sarkar*
Affiliation:
Tecnologico de Monterrey, Department of International Relations and Political Science, Mexico City, Mexico [email protected]
Amar Sarkar
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA [email protected]
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Sijilmassi et al. offer a myth-based framework that is particularly useful in understanding the rising tide of Hindu nationalism in contemporary India. We propose that the success of these myths lies partly in drawing upon the evolved human capacity for prestige-based status to induce a sense of belonging and identification with high-prestige Hindu social groups.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 47 , 2024 , e190
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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