Ethnic, Religious, and Ethnic, Religious, and National ConflictNational Conflict

Violence, Genocide, and InterventionsViolence, Genocide, and Interventions

Nazis in WWII

Rwanda

What is an Ethnic Group?What is an Ethnic Group?

A large group of people who share ancestral, A large group of people who share ancestral, language, cultural, or religious ties and a common language, cultural, or religious ties and a common identity.identity.

Thus, this is very subjective and abstract, but has Thus, this is very subjective and abstract, but has importance when many people begin to agree.importance when many people begin to agree.

Ethnicity and Nationality have very similar Ethnicity and Nationality have very similar definitions and sometimes are one-in-the-same definitions and sometimes are one-in-the-same for the Kurds, Kosovars, Chiapas, etc.for the Kurds, Kosovars, Chiapas, etc.

Why should we study ethnic Why should we study ethnic conflicts or civil wars?conflicts or civil wars?

Why Ethnicity/Nationality is relevant Why Ethnicity/Nationality is relevant to IR and world politics:to IR and world politics:

Nations often identify with territory.Nations often identify with territory.Claim to Self-Determination.Claim to Self-Determination.Groups spread across borders.Groups spread across borders.May lead to terrorism or civil war that May lead to terrorism or civil war that

crosses borders.crosses borders.Affects the foreign policy of states.Affects the foreign policy of states.States may aid or instigate problems with States may aid or instigate problems with

groups in foreign statesgroups in foreign states

How is ethnicity related to conflict How is ethnicity related to conflict and violence?and violence?

In-group/out-group phenomenon: Other In-group/out-group phenomenon: Other groups seem to be different and foreign, and groups seem to be different and foreign, and thus potentially threatening.thus potentially threatening.

In the worst case situations, people become In the worst case situations, people become dehumanized, which makes it possible to kill dehumanized, which makes it possible to kill them like lesser beings.them like lesser beings.Nazis with the Jews and SlavsNazis with the Jews and SlavsYugoslaviaYugoslaviaTutsis and Hutus in AfricaTutsis and Hutus in Africa

Ethnicity and violent conflict?Ethnicity and violent conflict?

Past (sometimes long) histories of conflict Past (sometimes long) histories of conflict that spiral.that spiral.

Becomes impossible who was to tell for Becomes impossible who was to tell for original sins that set in motion continuous original sins that set in motion continuous ethnic hatredethnic hatred

Notable feuds: Israel-Palestine, Armenia-Notable feuds: Israel-Palestine, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Armenia-Turks, Serbs-Croats, Azerbaijan, Armenia-Turks, Serbs-Croats, Hutu-Tutsis (Burundi, Rwanda, Congo), Kurds Hutu-Tutsis (Burundi, Rwanda, Congo), Kurds vs. everyone around them.vs. everyone around them.

Ethnicity and violent conflict?Ethnicity and violent conflict?

Cultural differences such as religion pour Cultural differences such as religion pour fuel on such fires.fuel on such fires.

Leader’s manipulation: Ethnic conflict does Leader’s manipulation: Ethnic conflict does not just happen, it has to be instigated.not just happen, it has to be instigated.Often used to exploit differences between

people that may not be that important.Intentional spread of fear and threat against

groups by national leaders: Hitler-Jews, Idi Amin-Indian merchants, Milosevic in Serbia vs. Croats and Muslims.

Other Important PointsOther Important Points::

Sometimes the differences between warring Sometimes the differences between warring groups are slight or by degree.groups are slight or by degree.

The dehumanization of people makes it The dehumanization of people makes it possible to forget similarities of culture.possible to forget similarities of culture.

Are Serbs and Croats really drastically different? Only by Religion and to a lesser extent language. How can outsiders identify a How can outsiders identify a Kurd or a Shiite from Sunni Iraqis?Kurd or a Shiite from Sunni Iraqis?