ETHNIC VIOLENCE

National Ethnic Violence

National Ethnic Violence

Introduction

In this essay, I described the causes that take part in national ethnic violent conflicts. I also mentioned some approaches to suppress or rectify those cause that fuel ethnic conflicts. I not only tried my best to give a comprehensive theory of ethnic conflicts but also tried to explore existing ways and explanations to construct a vast conceptual framework to understand the violent inter-group complexities. In this essay the terms “nation” and “ethnic group” will be used alternately to refer to: individuals who allegedly share racial or cultural characteristics, particularly territorial origin or common ancestry, which differentiate them from people of other groups. In the first section of this essay general aspects of the ethnic conflicts are discussed for the understanding about ethnic conflicts.

Discussion

As David Laiting and James Fearon argue, “A theory of ethnic conflict must be able to clarify why, in spite of bigger worry, cooperative and peaceful (ethnic) relations are by far more complicated outcome than is large scale aggression”(Fearon & Laiting, 1996, p.175). They also say that because of the cost of inter-ethnic violence and advantages of peace, “decentralized arrangements of institutions are probably arise to fair problems of interethnic opportunism.” Although ethnic conflicts that involve violence are continuously emerging across the globe, peaceful logical solution of ethnic tensions always exists. Recent ethnic violence like ethnic violence in Bosnia, Iraqi sectarian violence and genocide in Darfur and Rwanda, has developed deep concerns to global community. Continuous research of the problems of such conflict is essential in order to know what problems are creating instability and what the factors that are ethnically dividing the societies. There are many competing theories in literature on the reasons of ethnic conflicts. Majority of explanations include: institutional, competition over resources, apolitical entrepreneurs and primordialism. But, as Lipset and Jilali argue, “No factor gives a comprehensive explanation for the ethnic conflicts, their fluid qualities and dynamics”(Jilali & Lipset, 1993, p600).

Each ethnic problem has its own context and background, some elements are well known but all are common for the occurrence of ethnic conflict. The political entrepreneurs, competition for resources and institutional factors with ethnic emotions directs to ethnification, ethnic competition, intolerance, and finally - violent conflict. When ethnicities exist in a society there is a great potential of conflict to emerge. Ethnic emotions originated form old memories of injustice become the base of conflict. Donald Horowitz argues about ethnicity, "symbolizes the element of emotional strength that can be aroused eagerly when the thoughts and interest would be at stack of different groups"(Horowitz, 1985, p.59).

A major sudden change of structure (like decolonization in Sri Lanka and Rwanda and the end of communism from Bosnia) upsets previous institutional and political arrangements. Countries go through a face of economic and political transition when there is no occurrence of institutional mechanisms in which the new unable to function and the previous not further work and the social outlay increase. This develops the situation of uncertainty and instability about the economic, ...