Ethnic Ethnic ConflictConflict

STATESVS.

NATIONS

THAILANDTHAILAND??????

So what makes a…So what makes a…

““NATION”NATION” a nation? a nation?

““STATE”STATE” a state? a state?

KosovoKosovoTodayToday

KosovoKosovo20082008

STATESTATE NATIONNATION• ““Recognized” boundariesRecognized” boundaries• Independent Political UnitIndependent Political Unit• Internationally recognized Internationally recognized

by others (UN? US?) as by others (UN? US?) as sovereignsovereign

• Has official currencyHas official currency• Is defended / can be Is defended / can be

sustained (Iraq?)sustained (Iraq?)

• Group of people sharing Group of people sharing certain characteristics certain characteristics (usually cultural)(usually cultural)

• Common identityCommon identity• Not recognized as Not recognized as

sovereignsovereign• No official boundariesNo official boundaries• No official currencyNo official currency• Often unable to defendOften unable to defend

Kosovo TodayKosovo TodayKosovo is a disputed landlocked region in the Balkans. Its majority is governed by the partially-recognized Republic of Kosovo. The Republic of Serbia does not recognize the secession of the province and considers Kosovo a United Nations-governed entity within its sovereign territory, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

In February 2008, the Assembly of Kosovo declared Kosovo's independence as the Republic of Kosovo. As of April 29, 2012, its independence is recognised by 96 (out of 193) UN member states.

STATESSTATES

Political units with Political units with sovereigntysovereignty

• Exercise of power over people and territory.Exercise of power over people and territory.• Boundaries / authority recognized Boundaries / authority recognized

by other states.by other states.

SovereigntySovereignty

State TerritorialityState Territoriality(“patriotism”)(“patriotism”)

Identity based on political unitpolitical unit: Not necessarily on culture, ideology, or beliefs

““I am an American.”I am an American.” ““I am a Nigerian.”I am a Nigerian.”

NATIONNATIONA cultural group with a territorial identity:a sense of a “homeland”

Over 5,0005,000 ethnic “nations” cannot allbecome states, yetmany are large enough to survive(larger than some states)

Basques in Spain/FranceBasques in Spain/FranceQuébecois in CanadaQuébecois in Canada

Ethnic TerritorialityEthnic Territoriality(“nationalism”)

Identity based on ethnicityethnicity, not necessarily political boundaries

NATION-STATENATION-STATE•State with “one” nation

(none “pure” but some close)

•Nearly all states multiethnic(more than one nation)

•Nation and stateborder virtuallyidentical

Nation-States and Multiethnic StatesNation-States and Multiethnic States

Nations without a stateNations without a state

KurdsKurds

HmongHmong

RomaRoma(Gypsies)(Gypsies)

National CongruenceNational Congruence

Desire for state boundaries to match ethnic boundaries

* If majority does not want minority* If minority wants self-determination

Boundaries of Albaniain different eras

Iran:Iran:• PersiansPersians• Shi’aShi’a• Farsi (language)Farsi (language)

Religious TerritorialityReligious Territoriality States defined by religionStates defined by religion

IranIran

VaticanCity

IsraelIsrael

SaudiSaudiArabiaArabia

VaticanVaticanCityCity

Racial TerritorialityRacial Territoriality

States defined by race

White supremacist map for White supremacist map for a racial partition of the U.S.a racial partition of the U.S.

South Africa’s white and black areas under

Apartheid (racial separation)

South African Apartheid Apartheid (racial separation), 1948-94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKCJWjqjQww

South African Black Homelands

76% of populationgiven 13%of land;deniedcitizenshipin rest(ethnocide)

“Bantustans” forced on Blacks

Core GroupCore GroupStates are often constructed around / led by a dominant ethnic, racial or religious group

English in U.K.Whites in U.S.

Russians in U.S.S.R. & Russia

Soviet UnionSoviet UnionSecessionSecessionSeparation from state(independence)

Quebec Secession Voting

KosovoKosovo

Commonwealth ofCommonwealth ofIndependent StatesIndependent States

ConfederalismTransfer / dissolution of most power from core group / central government to regions

Confederate States of Confederate States of America declared 1861. America declared 1861.

Bosnia after civil war Bosnia after civil war ended in 1995, divided ended in 1995, divided into Bosnian-Serb and into Bosnian-Serb and

Muslim-Croat regionsMuslim-Croat regions

Break-Up ofBreak-Up ofYugoslaviaYugoslavia

1990s1990s

““Balkanization”

Balkanization”

Former Yugoslavia TodaySlovenia 1990Slovenia 1990

Croatia 1991Croatia 1991

Bosnia 1992Bosnia 1992

Macedonia 1992Macedonia 1992

SerbiaSerbia (remained “Yugoslavia” with Montenegro until 2003)

Montenegro 2006Montenegro 2006

Kosovo 2008Kosovo 2008

Is Vojvodina next?

KosovoPRISTINAPRISTINA

Why ethnic conflict?Why ethnic conflict?

• Because difference Because difference naturally causes naturally causes conflict?conflict?

• But difference does But difference does not always cause not always cause conflict.conflict.

• Conflicts also erupt Conflicts also erupt between similar between similar peoples!peoples!

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland (Catholics (Catholics vsvs. Protestants). Protestants)

• Same race, languageSame race, language

• Different religion (and Different religion (and ethnic group? class?)ethnic group? class?)

• Protestant majority for Protestant majority for staying in U.K.; staying in U.K.; Catholic minority for Catholic minority for joining Ireland.joining Ireland.

Same race, language, religion

Different ethnic group; one favored by colonialists

No major ethnic issues until colonial power entered (Belgians)

Genocide against Tutsi minority, 1994 (3 weeks: 100,000+ dead)RwandaRwanda

Rwanda / CongoRwanda / Congo(Hutus vs. Tutsis)

O.J.O.J.

Congo...TodayCongo...Today

International Business Times (1/2/2012)

By Palash R. Ghosh

Many people think that World War III has never occurred – but they would be wrong. A third 'World War' did indeed occur and it killed at least 5 million people (mostly from disease and starvation) – some estimated place the death toll much higher. Between 1998 and 2003, an extremely complex and chaotic civil war engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) -- a vast, thickly-jungled nation in Central Africa the size of Western Europe. While the estimated 5,000,000 death toll from this war pales in comparison to the 15,000,000 lives lost during World War I, and the 60,000,000 who perished in the Second World War -- the DR Congo inferno was nonetheless was one of the ten deadliest wars in recorded history.

http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/democratic_republic_of_the_congohttp://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/democratic_republic_of_the_congo

http:// http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov6SIYofcdY&feature=related

http:// http:// www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/275297/20120102/congo-world-war-nobody-knows.htm

Congo: The “World War” Nobody Knows About

BosniaBosnia(Serbs vs. Muslims vs. Croats)(Serbs vs. Muslims vs. Croats)

• Same race, same languageSame race, same language

• Different religion, so Different religion, so different “ethnic” group?different “ethnic” group?

• Intermarried, cooperated, Intermarried, cooperated, 1950s-80s; At war 1990s1950s-80s; At war 1990s

Muslim and Muslim and Serb refugees Serb refugees from Sarajevofrom Sarajevo

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17636907

Ethnic conflictEthnic conflictas a tool to…as a tool to…

• Mask economic / colonial hierarchy.Mask economic / colonial hierarchy.

• Divert majority citizens Divert majority citizens from economic crisis.from economic crisis.

• Prevent poor of different ethnic groups Prevent poor of different ethnic groups from uniting (divide and conquer).from uniting (divide and conquer).

Geopolitics of the Middle EastGeopolitics of the Middle EastWestern influence in the Middle East

• 1948: Israel (re)created by U.N.*1948: Israel (re)created by U.N.*• In a mostly Arabic region, most reject /

resent the decision by Core countries to assist in creation of Israel in what they consider their homeland (culturally, historically, religiously) for ~3,000 years

• Cultural bias on part of Core countries?

Palestinian NewspaperPalestinian Newspaper

* Partition Plan: * Partition Plan: signifies the birth of what has come to be recognized as continuous trouble for the U.S. (mostly) in the Middle East

• Jewish StateJewish State (Israel)(Israel)

• Arab State (Palestine)

• International ZoneInternational Zone (Jerusalem)(Jerusalem)

1948: 1948: UN Partition PlanUN Partition Plan

Jerusalem:Jerusalem:Holy City to Jews, Muslims, and ChristiansHoly City to Jews, Muslims, and Christians

2020thth Century History of Israel / Palestine Century History of Israel / Palestine

Nation?Nation?State?State?

Nation-State?Nation-State?Concept?Concept?Occupied Occupied Lands?Lands?

Palestine:

• West Bank• Gaza Strip

• Arab (ethnic) territoriality • Palestinians are multi-religious:

- Mostly Muslims but many ChristiansMostly Muslims but many Christians• Ethnic nationalist movement, but some newer

Muslim groups

PalestiniansPalestinians

The Main Issue:The Main Issue:• From Palestinian point of view:From Palestinian point of view:

– Israel is made of land taken from the Arab World– Anyone who supports Israel is part of the problem

(Western Countries: ethnocentrism?)

• From Israel’s point of view:From Israel’s point of view:– Israel is Jewish holy land, rightfully returned– Under constant threat / attack

• SOLUTIONS ANYONE?SOLUTIONS ANYONE?