what is rumor or manipulation. In addi- tion, populations fear the increasingly pervasive surveillance and monitoring by governments and fear private cor- porations seeking control or pro昀椀t from their personal information. Buddhist monks advocating for democracy near Mandalay, Burma. Religion plays a key organizing IDENTITIES MORE PROMINENT role in some parts of the world, serving as an As trust in governments, elites, and other important source of legitimacy and authority. established institutions erodes, societies are likely to fragment further based on identities and parts of Latin America, publics report and beliefs. People in every region are turn- greater participation in religious practices, ing to familiar and like-minded groups for pointing to the sense of purpose religion pro- community and a sense of security, including vides. Perceptions of existential threats from cultural and other subnational identities as con昀氀ict, disease, or other factors also contrib- well as transnational groupings and interests. ute to higher levels of religiosity. Identities and a昀케liations are simultaneously proliferating and becoming more pronounced. Many people are emphasizing and organizing around di昀昀erent aspects of their identities, In turn, this is leading to more in昀氀uential roles for identity groups in societal and politi- including race, gender, and sexual orientation, cal dynamics but also generating divisions as well as around causes and issues, such and contention. as climate change and religious freedom. The forces of globalization, including greater Many people are gravitating to more estab- mobility, urbanization, and connectivity, are in- lished identities, such as ethnicity and nation- creasing awareness and prominence of a wide alism. In some countries, slowing population array of constituencies that transcend national growth, increasing migration, and other demo- boundaries and are making it easier for peo- graphic shifts are intensifying perceptions of ple to organize around common interests and vulnerability, including a sense of cultural loss. values. These identities are playing greater Many people who feel displaced by rapid so- roles within and between countries as groups cial and economic changes resent violations of agitate for recognition and speci昀椀c goals. For age-old traditions and perceive that others are example, a broad global coalition has success- bene昀椀ting from the system at their expense. fully lobbied for public acceptance of and legal These perceptions also fuel beliefs that eco- protections for homosexuality worldwide, nomic and social change is damaging and that including organizing online campaigns and some leaders are pursuing misguided goals. public events even in socially conservative Consistent with the growing salience of es- countries, such as Iran. Between 2013 and tablished identities, religion continues to play 2019, the percentage of people indicating that important roles in people’s lives, shaping what homosexuality should be accepted in society they believe, whom they trust, with whom they increased in 21 of 27 geographically diverse congregate, and how they engage publicly. countries, according to the Pew Research Cen- In developing regions where populations are ter, and 30 countries have legalized same-sex growing fastest, including Africa, South Asia, marriage since 1989. A MORE CONTESTED WORLD 73 Photo / Bigstock