Reply #1: "sectarian violence" is cropping up with increasing frequency [View All]

707 hits for "surge in sectarian violence" http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22surge+in+sectarian+violence%22&btnG=Search+News
Just 4 hits for "recent surge in sectarian violence" http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=%22recent+surge+in+sectarian+violence%22&btnG=Search+News


sec·tar·i·an Pronunciation Key (sk-târ-n) adj.
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect.
2. Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination; partisan.
3. Narrow-minded; parochial.




In the 24 years prior to 1 year ago (1981-March 2005), the term "sectarian violence" appeared in the NY Times all of 41 times. In the past year, it has appeared 79 times, with half of those in the past month.

So, what is this all about? Either violence around the world in years/decades past was not sectarian in nature, OR we have a new word being applied to an old problem. Why is this happening? Is it important? I don't know...