Gendered Islamophobia: The Overlapping Parallels of Hindu and Buddhist Nationalism in South Asia

This article explores the overlapping grievances of Hindu and Buddhist nationalists in India and Sri Lanka and associated violence. Although the organization and tactics of the nationalist groups vary, they express similar concerns about perceived Muslim expansionism and existential threats to Hindu and Buddhist identity. The findings in this article draw upon field research in India and Sri Lanka, including interviews with Hindu and Buddhist nationalist leaders, community activists, and Muslim minorities. The interviews are supplemented with findings from a database of violent anti-Muslim acts in both countries from 2013-2019. This time period coincides with the electoral rise of Hindu and Buddhist nationalist parties and anti-Muslim violence in both countries.