Ethnic Conflict

Ethnic Conflict

In the modern world, ethnic sentiments are supported by the doctrine of “national self determination” Brownie Point Question: Which treaty led to the emergence of nation states? hint: 1648, starts with a “W”

Imperialism  Arbitrary boundaries Independence movements After independence EX: In Africa self determination = only to the level of pre-existing colonial boundaries Within the arbitrary borders, the question = to whom the new states belonged?

In the former colonies, especially multiethnic colonies, there was a clamor for control

Ethnic divisions also pose challenges to the cohesion of states, and sometimes to the peaceful relations between states

Ethnic affiliations are powerful, permeative, passionate and pervasive

At the root of ethnic conflict is the concept of identity

Difference between RACE

ETHNICITY ?

Intersubjectivity: Agreement on a given set of meanings. How does this relate to ethnicity?

Ethnic conflict is an economic issue: National and Global divisions of labor

Social construction of ethnicity poses a challenge to democracy

A post-racial era?

David Horowitz : three ways of relating ethnic conflict to the modernization process 1. Ethnic conflict as a relic of traditionalism 2. Ethnic conflict as a stubborn impediment to modernization 3. Ethnic conflict as an integral part of the modernization processes

Ethnicity often elicits more passionate loyalty than do class allegiances Conflict in multiethnic states might be diffused when class cuts across ethnic groups

A A

B

Class

When class and ethnicity overlap: DANGER! DANGER! Ranked A Class

B

Unranked

A A

B

Class

Unranked generally = less violent than ranked

Ethnic conflict in U.S. = both ranked and unranked. How to diagram?

The quest for power = a zero sum game?

Sometimes repressed ethnic groups desire to share power Sometimes, the demand for equality  demands for priority or exclusivity EX: Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Early period of independence movement: Sinhalese united with Tamils to demand recognition of both languages

As Sinhalese gained popularity  “Sinhalese only” “Ceylon for the Sinhalese Exclusion of Tamils Tamil guerrillas Power  maintain power a few general strategies : Violence Expulsion Imposed homogeneity

Another facet of the quest for power by ethnic groups: the quest for A state by country-less people Currently, more than 35 million people are either internally or externally displaced (refugees) Ethnic groups spread across two or more states: Palestinians, Kurds  international issue/conflict