Source: The UnPopulist
by Amal Chandra
“A geopolitical struggle in Asia is unfolding — not over land or trade but spiritual authority. Earlier this month, the 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual and political leader, turned 90. The Chinese Communist Party, despite being officially atheist, is intent on appointing his successor, seeking control over one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most sacred traditions: reincarnation. The CCP, in power since 1949, has designated greater Tibet as an autonomous region for the last 60 years but governs and counts it as a province within its borders, subject to its oversight. As the CCP sees it, that control extends to the theological plane — since religion is deeply interwoven into Tibetan identity. Far from a peripheral dispute, the Communist party’s attempts to dictate the spiritual lives of Tibetans reflect a global trend of authoritarian regimes capitalizing on the sacred to consolidate power, reframing spiritual legitimacy to serve political ends.” (07/29/25)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/authoritarian-rulers-are-co-opting