Indian Nationalism and Extremism: Experience for Russia(Political and Legal Aspects)

Abstract

The paper considers mainly the issue of nationalist radicalism and Hindu extremism in India. In the independent India, the close connection between politics and religion became a detonating mixture that has been one of the main reasons for the escalation of some conflicts in that country. In spite of some legislative changes, inter alia, the 42th constitutional amendment, the Indian state didn’t create mechanisms of separation between politics and religion. Moreover, the process has become impossible due to the weakening of INC and religious radicals taking the power. The authors illustrate a necessity to split politics and religion and a danger of the religion politicization with examples of inter-communal violence in different states of India. There are some parallels between India and the modern Russia, and negative experiences of India could be useful for Russia who also clashes with challenges of nationalism, extremism and terrorism.