<![CDATA[The profound influence of religion on elections presents a critical tension in democratic societies, simultaneously fostering civic cohesion and risking polarization, populism, and the erosion of secular governance. To systematically analyze this duality, this study conducts a bibliometric and integrative review of 84 peer-reviewed works (2020-2025). Employing dual-method triangulation, VosViewer-based science mapping and qualitative synthesis, this review visualize research trends and critically analyze frameworks, mechanisms, and actors. The findings strongly affirm Social Identity Theory’s (SIT) explanatory power by revealing that political behavior is a manifestation of in-group loyalty and the pursuit of positive social identity, rather than of purely rational calculation. This identity-based logic operates through four interconnected mechanisms: moral guidance, social belonging, institutional mobilization, and sustained civic influence. Islam and Catholicism emerge as the most prominently studied, influential denominations globally. This review consolidates a fragmented field. It offers scholars and practitioners a structured map of how religious identity shapes and potentially strains, democratic engagement, while highlighting gaps for future research in digital mediation and understudied regions.]]>
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