Christophe Jaffrelot: ‘At Stake Is Survival Of Indo-Islamic Civilisation’

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In The Media

Christophe Jaffrelot: ‘At Stake Is Survival Of Indo-Islamic Civilisation’

The majoritarian inferiority complex is to some extent irrational—in India like elsewhere. The Hindu complex of inferiority vis-à-vis others (including the Muslims) crystallized in the 19th century when the British not only emphasized the division of Hindus along caste lines and sectarian lines but also invented communal stereotypes.

By Christophe Jaffrelot

Published on Dec 15, 2021

Frontline

About the Author

Christophe Jaffrelot

Former Nonresident Scholar, South Asia Program

Jaffrelot’s core research focuses on theories of nationalism and democracy, mobilization of the lower castes and Dalits (ex-untouchables) in India, the Hindu nationalist movement, and ethnic conflicts in Pakistan.

Recent Work

Research
The BJP in Power: Indian Democracy and Religious Nationalism
- +4
  Milan Vaishnav, Rahul Verma, Rukmini S., …
Article
Ceasefire Violations in Kashmir: A War by Other Means?
- Christophe Jaffrelot

Religion South Asia Southeast Asia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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Christophe Jaffrelot: ‘At Stake Is Survival Of Indo-Islamic Civilisation’

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) attend a meeting along with Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) President Amit Shah and Indian designated Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) at the central hall of the parliament, in New Delhi on May 25, 2019.

Paper

Delimitation After Defeat: India’s Unfinished Debate Over Representation

The battle over representation and regional power has been delayed—not resolved—and will shape the future of India’s federal balance.

Louise Tillin, Milan Vaishnav, Andy Robaina

Commuters ride past a billboard with portraits of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (2L), Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf (3L), Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir (C), Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Baber (3R) and Chief Minister of the country's Punjab province Maryam Nawaz Sharif (2R), displayed along a street in Lahore on May 24, 2025.

Article

Pakistan’s Military Consolidation Under Munir Faces Critical Challenges

The regime bets that international legitimacy can be translated into domestic stability. But that depends upon whether it can leverage international goodwill to manage grievances and the economy at home.

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Article

India’s Demographic Dividend Is a Test of Governance

India’s demographic transition is underway, but its economic payoff remains far from guaranteed.

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Vietnam's Top Leader To Lam meets with young representatives from China and Vietnam participating in the "Red Study Tours" at the Great Hall of the People on April 15, 2026 in Beijing, China. T

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Hanoi and Beijing have long treated each other as distant cousins rather than comrades in arms. That might be changing as both sides draw closer to hedge against uncertainty and America’s erratic behavior.

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Duterte stands with his fist raised and a crowd of people stand behind him

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In the Philippines, Duterte-era discourse emphasizing sovereignty, anti-Western skepticism, and strongman diplomacy mirrors tenets of populist foreign policy around the world.

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