As the world grapples with the complexities of globalization and identity, the relationship between nationalism, religion and politics has become a key issue in the run-up to the 2024 election.

Two forms of nationalism worth examining in light of the election are Hindu nationalism in India and Christian nationalism in the US. These two growing, violent political movements fueled by the vilification of the other pose a serious threat to democracy, according to religion professor and host of the Straight White American Jesus Bradley Onishi.

Both Hindu nationalism and Christian nationalism are based on the idea that the nation should be defined by a particular religious majority, and that this majority should have special privileges and status. This leads to the promotion of violence and discrimination against minority groups.

“Christian nationalism is not Christianity,” said Katherine Stewart, investigative reporter and author of “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism” during an virtual event  put together by Moment magazine in April. “It is a political phenomenon that involves the exploitation of religion for political purposes. I think of it as combining two kinds of things: on one hand, it’s an ideology and a set of ideas and on the other hand, it’s a political movement, an organized quest for power.”

Interestingly one GOP presidential candidate, billionaire investor Vivek Ramaswamy, a practicing Hindu, appears to be deliberately aligning himself with Christian nationalist political groups like Moms for Liberty.

During Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate, Ramaswamy’s coded appeals to the religious right show the ways in which he is basing his political platform on nationalist ideology in the hopes of aligning himself with white supremacy..

Ramaswamy–a brown, Hindu son of Indian immigrants– has supported xenopohobic policies.When asked about immigration during the debate, he responded that in addition to sending the military to the border, the United States should, “end birthright citizenship for the kids of illegal immigrants in this country.”

But Ramaswamy isn’t just adopting white Christian nationalist ideas, he’s also pointed to Hindu nationalist ideas as something Americans can “learn from.”

In March, he praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist views and has repeatedly advocated for close ties between the United States and India.

Here’s what he said in a video posted to X in March after Modi visited the United States:

“Modi talked unapologetically about Indian national identity,” Ramaswamy said in a video posted on X after Modi’s visit to America in March. “He quoted the Vedas, ancient Indian scriptures. Yet here in the United States we have now gotten in the habit of apologizing for our own national history. … That’s what I think we need to learn here from Modi’s visit, is that we in this country are at our best when we too do not apologize for who we are.”

The reality of religious nationalism is hard to swallow, but it’s something Americans should consider this election cycle, said Corey Saylor,  director of research and advocacy for the Council on American Islamic Relations.

What is Hindu nationalism and how is it linked to Christian nationalism?

Hindu nationalism is a political movement that views the Indian identity and the Hindu identity as inseparable. In India, Hindu nationalism has been on the rise since the late 1980s. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the country’s ruling party, is a Hindu nationalist party that has been accused of promoting violence against Muslims and other religious minorities.

“The modern Hindutva movement is at the core of anti-Muslim, anti-Christian, and anti-minority persecutions in India,” Saylor said. “Led by [Indian Prime Minister] Modi, India’s far-right Hindutva government has inspired and allowed mobs to massacre Indian Muslims and target other religious minorities.”

Since May, more than 180 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in Manipur due to violent clashes between residents and BJP militia, according to Indian government officials.

Modi has been criticized for refusing to address the violence. In August, India’s Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Modi’s handling of Manipur, saying his government had “divided the state, broken it and burned it.”

Both Hindu and Christian nationalism are ideologies that focus on language, religion and national identity–especially what it means to be the “right” kind of citizen. Hindu nationalists have sought to “purify” India even to the point of attacking people like Urdu poet Hashim Firozabadi, who was beaten and doused with acid after he confronted two men who were allegedly harassing young girls.

Hindu nationalists refer to Urdu as a “Muslim language” and have tried to convince the government to stop using the language.

In India, Hindu nationalists have made efforts to re-write history–something Christian nationalists in America have also attempted. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is using the state education standards to reject and modify textbooks allowed to be used in public schools.

The role of Vivek Ramaswamy

The bold Republican candidate is gaining ground despite being an outsider in the GOP presidential race. The ideas he’s using to capture the hearts of Republican voters are rooted in the idea that TKTKT (define nationalism)

Ramaswamy, the second Hindu presidential candidate in history, is openly supporting white supremecist  policies  and aligning himself with many conservatives in both the US and abroad who openly tout Christian nationalist views.

Ramaswamy showed his alignment with the far right movement by attending and speaking at the Moms for Liberty Convention in July. He’s also made parent’s rights–the very issue Moms for Liberty has used to get school boards aligned with the political movement–one of his 10 “truths” he’s running on.

His alignment with Christian nationalists is expected to continue, as he has embraced both religious ideals and a proud national identity, said Indian American writer Manisha Sunil, who writes about religion and politics for the Daily Beast.

Sunil wrote about the attacks levied against Ramaswamy because of his Hindu heritage in the piece, which focused on the Hindu candidate’s association with Christian nationalist ideas.

Ramaswamy has openly talked about his Hindu faith, even quoting the Vedas, a Hindu religious text.

“The very ethos of Christian nationalism precludes non-Christian candidates (and frankly, even Christian candidates who fail to adhere to a specific brand of Christianity) from holding significant political power. Ramaswamy and candidates like him, such as Nikki Haley (who is Methodist but descends from a Sikh family), are going to continue to face attacks accusing them of not being American enough, and not being Christian enough,” she wrote.

Ramawamy told NBC News on September 13th that he believes America was founded on Judeo-Christian values–something most Christian Nationalists use as the foundation for their policies and perspectives.

He’s also quoted scripture and told Bible stories during campaign speeches—a behavior that more closely aligns himself with evangelical GOP voters, who are the most likely to say they support Christian Nationalism.

In a statement he said the “absence of national pride is a serious threat to the future of our country” and argued his proposal “can create a sense of shared purpose and responsibility amongst young Americans to become educated citizens.”

Modi’s view of national identity resonated with Ramaswamy, who has had a lot to say about American identity on the campaign trail. American identity is one of his “10 Truths” listed on his campaign website.

What does it all mean?

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Saylor said it’s important for American voters to be aware of the types of extremism affecting non-white people here and abroad when choosing their candidates.

He told Reckon that America is its best when we honor the many faiths practiced across the country and reject the vilification of human beings for votes.

“Vilification is a vote-getting tactic Indian Prime Minister Modi and his Indian People’s Party have adopted,” Saylor said. “When politicians talk about how their faith drives them to uplift their constituents this is something to be listened to. When politicians use religion to justify othering human beings then this deserves to be met with criticism.”