Ethnic and racial conflict

International Conflict
Ethnic

Economic

Religious

International
Conflict

Governmental

Ideological

Territorial

Ethnic

IDEAS
Religious

Ideological

Economic

Interests
Territorial

Governmental

These six types of conflicts are

not mutually exclusive, and
they overlap considerably in
practice.

Ethnic conflict is quite possibly the

most important source of conflict
in the numerous wars occurring
throughout the world.

Ethnic Groups
Large groups of people who share ancestral,
language, cultural, or religious ties and a common
identity (individual identify with the group).
Although conflicts between ethnic groups
often have material aspects- notably over
territory and government control- ethnic
conflict itself stems from a dislike or hatred
that members of one ethnic group
systematically feel toward another ethnic
group.

Ethnic conflict is thus not based on tangible

causes (what someone does) but on intangible
ones (who someone is).
Ethnic groups often form the basis for
nationalist sentiments. Not all ethnic groups
identify as nations.

But in locations where millions of members of a

single group live as the majority population in
their ancestors land, they usually think of
themselves as a nation.
In most such cases they aspire to have their own
state with its formal international status and
territorial boundaries.

Territorial control is closely tied to the aspirations of

ethnic groups for statehood.

Any states borders deviate to some extent from the

actual location of ethnic communities. Members of the
ethnic group are left outside its states borders, and
members of other ethnic groups are located within the
states borders. The resulting situation can be
dangerous, with part of an ethnic group controlling a
state and another part living as a minority within
another state controlled by a rival ethnic group.
Frequently the minority group suffers discrimination
in the other state, and the home state tries to rescue
or avenge them.

Causes of Ethnic Hostility

Why do ethnic groups frequently dislike
each other?
Long standing historical conflicts over
specific territories or natural resources or
over one ethnic groups economic
exploitation or political domination of
another.

KINSHIP
Ethnic group is a kind of extended kinship
group- a group of related individuals sharing
some ancestors.
Even when kinship relations are not very close,
a group identity makes a person act as though
the other members of the ethnic group were
family.

Ethnocentrism
Or In-group-bias is the tendency to see ones own group
in favorable terms and an out- group in unfavorable
terms.
It may have its roots in a biological propensity to
protect closely related individuals, though it is a
controversial idea.
The ties that bind ethnic groups together, and dice
them from other groups, are based on the identity
principle.

In-group-biases are far stronger when the other group

looks different, speaks a different language, or worships
in a different way (or all the three).
All too easily, an out-group can be dehumanized and
stripped of all human rights.
This dehumanization includes the common use of
animal names- pigs, dogs, and so forth- for
members of the out-group.

EDUCATION
Education can overcome
ethnic animosities between
traditionally hostile nations.

IMMUNITY
from ethnic conflicts
Can be caused because they all are from the
same ethnic group, speak the same
language, and share the same religion.

States
reinforce
their
citizens
identification with the state through
flags., anthems, patriotic speeches and so
forth. Perhaps someday people will shift
loyalties even further, developing a global
identity as humans first and members of
states and ethnic groups second.