Comparative analysis of religious social movements: The role of rural-to-urban migration in the rise of the National Outlook and Soka Gakkai

Abstract

This study examines the influence of rural-to-urban migration on the emergence and rise of the National Outlook Movement in Turkey and Soka Gakkai in Japan. Utilizing the relative deprivation framework, it elucidates the mechanisms through which internal migration dynamics influence the proliferation of these movements. The findings unveil a direct correlation between internal migration patterns and the burgeoning membership of these groups. Migrants, especially women, have experienced both absolute and relative deprivation in urban areas, leading them to align with these movements. This research sheds scholarly light on the intricate relationship between migration patterns and religious organizations, emphasizing the pivotal role of relative deprivation in galvanizing participation within these groups.