Ethnic conflicts ( Sociology Optional)

EN

Ethnicity

• The study of ethnicity and ethnic conflicts is a relatively new theme in social science research. Its emergence can betraced to the critique of modernisation and development theory that emerged in the 1980s.
• Ethnicity refers to the identification of a group based on a perceived cultural distinctiveness that makes the group into a “people.” This distinctiveness is believed to be expressed in language, music, values, art, styles, literature, family life, religion, ritual, food etc.

Ethnic conflict

• In popular usage, the term ‘ethnic’ group is used to refer to racial or linguistic groups. Ethnic conflicts are thus conflicts between racial and linguistic groups.
• An ethnic conflict is a conflict between two or more contending ethnic groups.
• While the source of the conflict may be political, social, economic or religious, the individuals in conflict must expressly fight for their ethnic group's position within society. This criterion differentiates ethnic conflict from other forms of struggle.

Factors responsible for conflict

Structural factors

• Weak or failed states often serve as an impetus for ethnic conflict.
• Changes in the economic situation of a state. e.g., cuts in foreign aid, corruption, administrative incompetence, and the inability to promote economic stability.
• These are associated with the deterioration of the political situation
• Mobilization of ethnic groups.
• Group rivalry can lead to military mobilization, which leads to general armament of all ethnic groups within the state.
• The geographic distribution and territorial concentration of ethnic groups in pluralistic states—also contributes to the likelihood of violent ethnic conflict.

Political factors

• Ethnic conflict is particularly likely in states where ethnic groups lack sufficient representation in public and political institutions.
• Political factors such as endemic bad governance; the growth of anti-secular forces; institutional decay and political chicanery; and vote-bank politics on the part of unscrupulous political parties and politicians have greatly contributed to the outbreak of ethnic conflict as well.

Economic and social factors

• Economic problems such as slowdowns, stagnation, deterioration, and complete collapse are sources of state destabilization and can lead to increased tensions and competition among ethnic groups.
• Discriminatory economic systems, fast economic transitions and development can also aggravate instability.

Cultural or perceptual factors

• Cultural factors such as problematic group histories, stereotypical perceptions, and grievances over cultural discrimination.
• It includes limitations on religious and cultural practices, unequal educational opportunities, and restrictions on the use of minority languages—are common causes of ethnic conflict.

Ethnic Conflicts in India

• According to Punekar (1974) the four major premises where ethnicity in India operates are language, region, religion and caste.
• Although historically they have lived peacefully together, there have been growing discontent among them and instances of violence have risen.
• Ethnic conflict has been an important factor in the making and unmaking of governments and domestic strife in many parts of India.
• it was during the British rule that ethnic groups like certain backward castes and classes began to organise themselves into strong associations.

Manifestation of Ethnic Conflicts

• The challenge posed by ethnic groups in India have taken the form of (i) autonomy movements, (ii) secessionist movements, (iii) insurgency and (iv) violent conflicts on the basis of identity markers such as language, religion, tribe, caste, etc.
• Possessing many of the features of a nation, ethnic communities in different parts of the country at different times, have sought political autonomy. The demand for the creation of states on the basis of language soon after the country’s independence is a good example here.
• In the Northeast region of India, ethnic conflicts have assumed secessionist and insurgent proportions.
• Historically, ethnic communities in the Northeast had very little contact with India during the colonial period. Entry of the modern Indian state into these areas after Independence created tensions and fears that their ethnic way of life would be lost. As a result, a number of groups in the region have waged a protracted violent struggle for secession from India.
• Ex; Decleration of independence by Nagas in 1950s, the Mizo National Front armed campaign etc

Inter-ethnic Conflicts

• Quite distinct from the conflicts between the forces of unity and diversity, that is, between the Indian state and the ethnic groups, there are a number of inter-ethnic conflicts.
• This is mainly attributed to the various incitements of political actors for their own gain.
• Ex; Hindu-Muslim communal conflicts on the rejection of two nation theory, Hindu-Sikh ethnic conflict etc.
• Another inter-ethnic conflict that has persisted in urban Indian politics is the one between the locals and the migrants. This conflict essentially arose from the competition for limited resources-employment and educational opportunities-actual or potential.
• Ex; 1960s, the ‘sons of the soil’ movement in Maharastra.

Managing Ethnic Conflicts

• A coherent and effective response to ethnic conflicts has to keep in mind, the common as well as the unique factors, which account for clashes between groups of people.
• Induce encouragement in people to widen their perspectives, to keep an open mind and to be tolerant towards others
• Encouraging the members of the different communities to have a dialogue, with each other.
• Cross-cultural participation must be more frequent, especially during festivities and ceremonies.
• People must be made to understand not to give ear to rumours unless it is followed with evidence
• The process of sustenance of communal harmony is most essential in spite of it being slow and requiring a lot of patience and toil to reach to the grassroot level of society in order to motivate and socialise people.

Ethno-Nationalism

• Ethno-nationalism is a kind of sub-nationalism based upon ethnic identity of the ethnic groups. It is a vertical division of nationalism and excludes all those people from it who do not belong to same ethnic group. 
• Certain groups may believe that, due to their common ethnic or racial origin, members have the same ancestors and can be regarded as “relatives.”
• ethno-nationalism is the nationalism of ethnic groups such as Muslim, Kurds, Latvians, Tamils etc., who define their nation in exclusive terms, mainly on the basis of common descent, race, culture, history and language.
• An ethno-nationalist education not only creates resistance to cultural and educational imposition by other groups; it also uses it positively to preserve and extend the particular ethnic group’s identifying characteristics.
• Ethno-nationalism transcends the boundaries of state, religion sect and class. It seeks to fragment established nationalities and communities and create new ones using ethnic indicators.
• The symbolic and cultural aspects of ethnicity are important in themselves and often get politicised for the promotion of collective interests.
• Most ethno-national conflicts are for a larger share of economic resources and products and for a greater part in decision-making processes.
• According to Joseph Rothschild, “politicised ethnicity has become the most keen and potent edge of intrastate and interstate conflict and it asserts itself today dialectically as the leading legitimator or delegitimating or political authority.”
• Ethnic cleansing is the most dreaded dimension of ethno-national conflict. It is a ‘cleaning operation’ carried out by one ethnic group of the other ethnic groups. In this type ethnic conflict, the indigenous ethnic group launches a genocide and/or expulsion of the foreigners.