Buddhism Betrayed? Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka

Buddhism Betrayed? examines the rise of militant Buddhism and ethnonationalist violence in modern Sri Lanka. The book analyzes how Buddhist institutions and symbols became intertwined with Sinhalese political movements and ethnic conflict. Through historical analysis and contemporary case studies, Tambiah traces the transformation of Buddhism from its traditional peaceful teachings to its role in Sri Lankan politics and civil unrest. The text documents key events, leaders, and organizations that shaped Buddhist nationalism in the country from the colonial period through the late 20th century. Drawing from his background as both an anthropologist and a Sri Lankan native, Tambiah provides cultural context and insider perspectives on this complex religious-political phenomenon. The research incorporates extensive primary sources including political speeches, religious texts, and media reports. The work raises fundamental questions about how religions can be mobilized for political purposes and the relationship between religious identity and nationalism. It challenges assumptions about Buddhism's inherently peaceful nature while examining broader patterns of how traditional faiths adapt to and shape modern conflicts.

Readers note this as a detailed examination of Buddhism's role in Sri Lankan political violence, though some find Tambiah's academic tone challenging to follow. Liked: - Deep historical documentation of Buddhist nationalism's evolution - Analysis of how religious symbols became politicized - Clear connections between colonial policies and modern conflicts - Coverage of multiple perspectives from different ethnic groups Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Some readers felt Tambiah showed bias against Sinhalese Buddhism - Limited discussion of Tamil perspectives - Lack of proposed solutions or path forward Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (8 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Essential for understanding Sri Lanka's religious politics but requires serious concentration" - Goodreads reviewer "Too focused on criticizing Buddhist institutions rather than examining root causes" - Amazon reviewer "Dense but rewarding analysis that shows how religion became a tool for nationalism" - Academia.edu review

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🕉️ The book sparked controversy upon release for challenging the common perception of Buddhism as an inherently peaceful religion, examining how it became intertwined with Sinhalese nationalism and ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka 📚 Stanley Tambiah, the author, was himself a Tamil from Sri Lanka who became a renowned anthropologist at Harvard University, bringing a unique insider-outsider perspective to the subject 🏛️ The question mark in the title "Buddhism Betrayed?" was deliberately chosen to invite readers to consider whether Buddhism itself was betrayed by political manipulation, or if the religion contains elements that can be mobilized for nationalist purposes 🗿 The book traces how ancient Buddhist chronicles like the Mahavamsa were reinterpreted in the 20th century to justify modern Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism and exclusionary politics 🏆 This work was part of a trilogy on ethnic violence for which Tambiah won the Balzan Prize in 1997, one of the most prestigious awards in the social sciences