The role of religion in social processes, the interaction between the state and civil society is analyzed on the example of Russia during the Civil War and the Republic of South Africa in the era of the National Party. Special attention is paid to mechanisms of political influence of religious institutions on internal environment both in conditions of political collapse and in case of external interference, and attempts to destabilize a properly functioning political system.
Burundi has a long history of political violence and vigilantism that were particularly widespread in the context of the 1993–2005 civil war. During this period, various armed groups and militias emerged and engaged in violent attacks against civilians, rival rebel groups, and even government forces for ethnic or political reasons. In the aftermath of the civil war, the government of Burundi has struggled to address the legacy of violence and establish a stable political system. Yet vigilantism remains a significant issue in Burundi, with reports of civilians taking the law into their own hands in response to perceived threats and injustices. In some areas, local communities have organized vigilante groups to protect themselves from different crimes, while police as the only legal law enforcement actor to fight crime remains unsuccessful in providing proper security. However, vigilante groups also engage in extrajudicial acts of violence, such as lynching, or mob justice, and can exacerbate existing ethnic tensions and conflicts. The article concludes that long-term interethnic antagonism, coupled with experience of mutual extermination, can become the main catalyst for vigilantism that presents a threat for the overall stability of political system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.