Peter T. C. Chang

Opinion | Rising tide of ethno-religious nationalism threatens civilisation

From the US grilling of TikTok’s CEO over his nationality to Israel’s intractability over the Gaza war, ethno-religious nationalism threatens to split our world into antagonistic civilisation enclaves

Reading Time:4 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Peter T. C. Chang

Published: 5:30am, 16 Mar 2024Updated: 5:47am, 16 Mar 2024

The complexities brought about by human migration and cultural diversity have given rise to ethno-religious nationalism worldwide. However, in an era where the well-being of the global community is intricately intertwined, turning inward is not a sustainable solution. Instead, building bridges between civilisations is key to safeguarding the fate of humankind.

President Xi Jinping has unveiled three initiatives – the global development, security and civilisation initiatives – that shape the conceptual framework of China’s next phase of global outreach. Within the global civilisation initiative, Xi sees respect for diversity as a cornerstone to building a shared future.

Last year, during a visit to Beijing, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Xi pledged to collaborate to foster trust between cultures through this initiative. Anwar, an advocate for cross-cultural engagement, had actively promoted Islamic-Confucian dialogue. Under his Malaysia Madani vision, the government has committed to realising an inclusive, pluralistic Malaysia.

Malaysia’s unique multicultural landscape is a by-product of British colonial rule, during which labourers from China and India were recruited to work in mines and plantations. Following independence, Malaysia inherited a land of diverse races and creeds.

Malaysia’s founding fathers adhered to the principle that no single faith should overshadow other belief systems, despite Islam being the official religion. Like most countries, Malaysia encountered challenges in balancing the diverse needs of its constituents. For example, Anwar is facing resistance from conservatives who view the court judgment against the expansion of sharia law as a potential erosion of Malay Muslim rights.

Neighbouring Singapore also grapples with its diverse ethnic groups. The city state aims to maintain social cohesion among its multi-religious population by ensuring the public sphere remains free from undue influence from any specific religion.