For centuries, religion has been used to help the political power structure. There were Jewish kings and then were Christian emperors and Popes. All used religion to direct the masses.
When Martin Luther removed the veil and people realized they did not need a pope to talk to God, the political power of the church declined.
Nationalism replaced the religious strings used to control the masses, and that seems to have reached its peak a few decades ago.
Unfortunately, politicians have not stopped searching for strings to pull for power. Since religion and nationalism, at least in the west, have declined, now global warming, communism (still) pacifism, and homosexual marriage are being used for political power gain.
What is my point? Many in the third world are culturally passing through these stages the west survived the past few centuries. Unfortunately , they have much greater fire power.
