Chapter No.
Introduction to Ethnic Conflicts: Key Concepts & Overview
1. Definition of Ethnicity, Ethnic Groups, and Ethnic Identity
Ethnicity: Refers to the shared cultural, linguistic, religious, or ancestral heritage of a group of
people. It is a social construct that defines a group based on common traditions, history, and often
shared physical traits.
o Key Features of Ethnicity: Cultural practices, traditions, language, religious beliefs, and
historical experiences.
Ethnic Groups: A group of people who share common characteristics such as language, culture,
and ancestry, and who see themselves as distinct from other groups.
o Examples: Kurds, Hutus, Tamils, and Catalans.
Ethnic Identity: The sense of belonging to a specific ethnic group. It is a subjective experience,
shaped by personal and collective memory, shared experiences, and recognition by others.
2. Overview of Ethnic Conflict: Historical and Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples of Ethnic Conflict:
o The Rwandan Genocide (1994): Conflict between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi
minority, leading to mass violence and genocide.
o The Partition of India and Pakistan (1947): Ethnic and religious conflict between Hindus
and Muslims, culminating in the division of the British colony into two separate nations.
Contemporary Examples of Ethnic Conflict:
o The Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005): A conflict between the Arab-dominated
government of Sudan and the African ethnic groups, primarily the South Sudanese.
o The Syrian Civil War (2011-present): Involves ethnic and religious factions, including
Arabs, Kurds, and other minority groups, fighting for control and autonomy.
3. Importance of Understanding Ethnic Conflict in Global Politics
Ethnic Identity as a Political Tool: Ethnic identities are often politicized, and political elites may
manipulate ethnic divisions to gain power or justify conflict. Understanding these dynamics is
crucial for conflict prevention.
Impact on International Relations: Ethnic conflicts can have far-reaching implications for
neighboring countries and international organizations. For instance, the breakup of Yugoslavia in
the 1990s impacted European stability and required UN peacekeeping interventions.
Humanitarian Concerns: Ethnic conflicts often result in severe human rights violations,
including genocide, forced migration, and displacement. Understanding these conflicts is necessary
for developing effective humanitarian responses.
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: Studying ethnic conflict provides insight into peace
processes, mediation strategies, and post-conflict reconstruction. The lessons from past conflicts
can guide the design of future peace agreements and post-conflict integration policies.
Chapter Reference:
"Ethnic Conflict: A Global Perspective" by Thomas Hylland Eriksen
o Chapter 1: "Introduction to Ethnic Conflict" provides a comprehensive overview of
ethnic conflict, offering historical examples and discussions on the causes, consequences,
and resolutions of ethnic tensions in both historical and contemporary contexts.
Summary of Key Points from Chapter 1 of "Ethnic Conflict: A Global Perspective":
1. Defining Ethnic Conflict:
o Ethnic conflict often arises when ethnic groups feel that their identity, culture, or political
rights are under threat. These conflicts may be fueled by historical grievances, economic
inequalities, or social exclusion.
2. Roots of Ethnic Conflict:
o The origins of ethnic conflict are often deep-rooted, dating back to colonial periods, state-
building processes, or inter-ethnic competition for resources or political power.
3. Consequences of Ethnic Conflict:
o Ethnic conflict can lead to violence, displacement, social fragmentation, and long-lasting
resentment. It may also destabilize entire regions, as seen in the Balkans, Rwanda, and the
Middle East.
4. Case Studies:
o The chapter offers insights into various global case studies, including the aforementioned
examples like Rwanda and Yugoslavia, to illustrate the various factors contributing to
ethnic conflict and their outcomes.
"Ethnic Conflict: A Global Perspective" by Thomas Hylland Eriksen provides a comprehensive
exploration of ethnic conflicts worldwide, analyzing their roots, dynamics, and the impact of ethnicity on
conflict. It draws from various global examples, historical and contemporary, to show how ethnicity
shapes politics and social divisions.
Brief Explanation of Key Concepts in the Book with Examples:
1. Ethnicity and Its Role in Conflict:
o Ethnicity refers to the shared culture, language, religion, or ancestry of a group. This
identity can become a source of conflict when groups feel that their distinctiveness is
threatened or marginalized.
o Example: The Kurdish conflict involves Kurds in countries like Turkey, Iraq, and Syria
who have long fought for autonomy or independence. Ethnic identity plays a central role in
the Kurdish desire for self-determination.
2. Colonial Legacy:
o Colonialism often exacerbated ethnic divisions by favoring certain ethnic groups over
others and artificially creating borders that ignored existing ethnic territories.
o Example: In Africa, European colonial powers arbitrarily divided ethnic groups, leading to
post-independence conflicts. For instance, the Hutu-Tutsi conflict in Rwanda was
influenced by Belgian colonial policies that created distinctions between the two groups,
contributing to the 1994 genocide.
3. Ethnic Nationalism and Self-Determination:
o Ethnic nationalism is the belief that an ethnic group should govern itself, often leading to
separatist movements or demands for independence.
o Example: The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka were an ethnic group that fought for an
independent Tamil Eelam. They argued that the Tamils, who were politically marginalized
by the Sinhalese-majority government, had the right to their own state.
4. Ethnic Conflict in the Context of Globalization:
o Globalization, by increasing interconnections, often brings ethnic tensions to the forefront.
People from diverse ethnic backgrounds may clash over economic resources, political
power, or cultural dominance in rapidly changing societies.
o Example: In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s led to
ethnic cleansing, where Bosnian Muslims, Croats, and Serbs fought for control of territory
based on ethnicity. The war was a violent result of nationalist sentiments, exacerbated by
the breakdown of the multinational Yugoslav state.
5. The Role of Religion in Ethnic Conflicts:
o Religion often overlaps with ethnic identity and can intensify conflicts when religious
groups are seen as an extension of ethnic groups, with violent outcomes.
o Example: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is often framed in ethnic and religious terms,
with Jews and Palestinians fighting over land, identity, and political control, tied deeply to
their respective ethnic and religious identities.
6. Social and Economic Inequalities:
o Often, ethnic conflict is driven by economic or social disparities where one group is
marginalized or discriminated against by the state or other dominant groups.
o Example: In South Africa, the apartheid system systematically oppressed Black South
Africans, creating deep ethnic divisions that led to decades of racial conflict and eventually
the end of apartheid in 1994.
7. The Challenge of Conflict Resolution:
o Ethnic conflicts are complex, and resolving them requires addressing deep-rooted
grievances and inequalities. Solutions often involve power-sharing, reconciliation, and
addressing the rights of ethnic minorities.
o Example: Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement (1998) is a peace process that
ended decades of conflict between Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists. The
agreement involved political power-sharing and acknowledgment of both ethnic identities.
8. Ethnic Identity and Conflict:
o Ethnic identity often becomes a political tool. Leaders may manipulate ethnic identity to
rally support, which can escalate tensions.
o Example: In Myanmar, the Rohingya Muslim minority has faced persecution from the
Buddhist-majority government, with the military using ethnic identity as a justification for
their actions against the Rohingya.
9. Modern Ethnic Conflict:
o Ethnic conflicts today often have global dimensions, involving diaspora communities,
international intervention, and the influence of media and social networks.
o Example: The Syrian Civil War is not only an internal ethnic conflict but also involves
regional and international actors, each supporting different ethnic or religious groups (e.g.,
Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Alawites, and foreign powers like the U.S., Russia, and Turkey).
Conclusion:
Eriksen's book emphasizes that ethnic conflict is not just about the cultural or ethnic differences themselves
but about the social, economic, and political structures that reinforce inequalities and marginalization. His
analysis stresses the importance of addressing underlying issues like economic inequality, political
exclusion, and the manipulation of ethnic identity for political gain in order to prevent and resolve ethnic
conflicts.
Through historical and contemporary case studies, the book provides a nuanced understanding of how
ethnicity, identity, and politics intertwine, shaping the course of global conflicts.
