We do not attempt to assess whether a situation meets the criteria for armed conflict in international law. Definition of conflict and the life cycles of a conflict conflict definition of conflict the perception of threat, or actual occurrence of conflict, is necessary for the initiation of conflict prevention or management measures, and hence it is essential to address the concept of conflict before exploring how to. Ethnic conflict, a form of conflict in which the objectives of at least one party are defined in ethnic terms, and the conflict, its antecedents, and possible solutions are perceived along ethnic lines. Each ethnic conflict has its own unique characteristics and, in different contexts, some of these elements will be more prominent than the others, but all of them are the common denominators necessary for ethnic conflict to occur. The model we use the notation h and m to denote two ethnic or religious af. It is complicated to define conflict as it is difficult to come to a consensus concerning the definition of. Ethnic conflict ethnic conflict dynamics of ethnic conflict. Ethnic conflict dynamics of ethnic conflict britannica. This article discusses the nature of ethnic conflict as well as the literature that defines and differentiates types of ethnic conflict. The causes of ethnic conflicts byu scholarsarchive.
The concept paper series is the joint centers paper series addressing topics and concepts of foremost importance for understanding the dynamics of. This is despite recurrent scepticism about its desirability and appropriateness in a globalising world. Negative effects of conflict conflict is the most vigorous form of social interaction and evokes the deepest passions and strongest emotions which can disrupt social unity. In developing country incidence were low and in the developing sever. Ethnicity and ethnic conflict violence in twentieth century. Ethnic conflict is a dispute between two or more ethnic tribal groups caused by the politicisation of tribal identity by selfseeking politicians.
Linking instrumentalist and primordialist theories of ethnic. This study presents a conceptual framework for understanding the conflict in one of the most dangerous regions of the world the caucasus. It is rooted primarily in the fields of business, sociology and psychology, but not in communication or education. This article argues that intense ethnic conflict is usually caused by collective fears for the future. First of all, the meaning of the concept of ethnicity depends on the meaning of several other concepts, particularly those of ethnic group and ethnic identity. Misinterpreting ethnic conflicts in africa africa center. It refers to ethnicity as the collective phenomenon. The grow up data portal unites a number of datasets on ethnic groups and intrastate conflict from various sources in a single relational database. Structure and strategy in ethnic conflict donald l. The grow up public frontend visualizes a subset of the data, e. Although this usage is quite common, more specific terms such as black or asian are preferable.
By proposing a typology of armed conflict, the study seeks to achieve analytical clarity and contribute to conflict analysis. Our model applies equally well to groups that form based on the geographical base of their membership. Ethnic conflict, a form of conflict in which the objectives of at least one party are defined in ethnic terms, and the conflict, its antecedents, and possible solutions. Furthermore, most of the literature agrees on the operationalization of ethnic conflict into a simple dichotomous variable. An ethnic conflict is a conflict between two or more contending ethnic groups.
Their emphasis in on the ascriptive and cultural core of the conflict, and they distinguish it primarily from the largely nonascriptive and economic core of. First of all, the concept ethnic minority as a specific definition of groups in the population should be defined and measured. Main apporaches to the definition of ethnic conflicts. This final criterion differentiates ethnic conflict from other forms of struggle. Horowitz decades after the recognition that ethnicity is a powerful force in the politics of many countries, with profound effects on prospects for democracy horowitz 1993. But incidence of ethnic violence was different in varying country. A natural history of ethnic violence written by matthew lange, ithaca. Ethnic conflict definition and overview ethnic conflict is a concept that is difficult to define and perhaps, more difficult to comprehend. On the theory of ethnic conflict dukes fuqua school of business.
This article discusses the nature of ethnic conflict as well as the literature that. It is difficult to determine which catalysts for ethnic violence exist, and how they may be defined and differentiated. Conflict is a struggle or contest between people with opposing needs, ideas, beliefs, values, or goals. While the origin while the origin of the conflict may be polit ical, social, economic or religious. Szayna, angela omahony, jennifer kavanagh, stephen watts, bryan frederick, tova c.
Jun 01, 2016 ethnic conflict constitutes a major challenge to international peace and security. Contents preface ix part i concepts and analysis 1 1 approaches to understanding conflict 3 the nature of conflict 5 the context of defining conflict 6 sociopsychological dynamics 9 conflict situations 10 intractable conflict 12 constructive versus destructive conflict root causes of conflict 15 levels of analysis 16 overview 18 2 conflict analysis framework 20. Conflict, conflict prevention, conflict management and beyond. The goal of this study determinates social context of ethnic conflict in multi ethnic societies. Articles nationalism, ethnic conflict, and rationality of value rationality and instrumental rationality. A widely used social science definition of armed conflict. Here the definition of ethnicity makes reference to national tradition, and the definition of race mirrors that of ethnicity. Yet, and crucially, ethnic conflict is by no means universal in ethnically.
The primordialist approach helps explain the role of emotions and the conflict potential of ethnicity. Comparing regional and ethnic conflict in postsoviet transition states. Ethnic is sometimes used in a euphemistic way to refer to nonwhite people as a whole, as in a radio station which broadcasts to the ethnic community in birmingham. An ethnic conflict is a conflict between two or more rival ethnic groups.
Ethnic conflicts were the main forms of political instability in the multi ethnic societies during second half of twenty century and beginning of new century. Developed by the uppsala conflict data program wallensteen 1988. This inquiry will look at ethnic conflicts and possible causes within the 20th century. When one groups army enters a city in enemy territory, its soldiers can be pretty condent that the overwhelming. What causes ethnic conflict, and why does it escalate. When groups can be formed along ethnic lines, ethnic identity can be used as a marker to recognize potential inltrators. Massive humanrights violations and physical attacks on civilianssuch as rape, torture, mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and genocidelead to tremendous human suffering. Ethnoterritoriality is an increasingly invoked term by those doing research on nationalism and ethnic conflict. Conflict definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Isajiw university of toronto paper presented at joint canadaunited states conference on themeasurement of ethnicity, ottawa, ontario, canada, april 2, 1992. The conflict is usually not about ethnic differences themselves but over political, economic, social, cultural, or territorial matters. If you wish to distribute this article to others, you can order highquality copies for your following the guidelines here. Indeed, many conflict scholars find the ethnic distinction baseless. Systematic discrimination and exclusion from national and local political decision making, the.
Despite this, it has not been subject to detailed definitional and conceptual examination. The concept of conflict conflict refers to some form of friction, disagreement, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or unacceptable to one or more members of another group. Defined in broadest terms, conflict denotes the incompatibility of subject positions diez et al, 2006. Ethnic conflict michael banton department of sociology university of bristol abstract the ethnic dimension to social relations can be distinguished from dimensions based on neighbourliness, national origin, race and religion etc. Both of these rationalities are expressions of goaldirected behavior, but their conceptions of costs widely diverge. The model also embodies the economics of conflict, and contains an explicit description of the financial and human opportunity costs of conflict. The concept of ethnic group is the most basic, from which the others are derivative. Developing country management ethnic conflict by participation and justice policy that the equality is the best way for resolve this problem.
Conflict is serious disagreement and argument about something important. The conflict is usually not about ethnic differences themselves but over. The definition of ethnic as given above is a now standard one in the literature on ethnic politics, and is grounded in constructivist and instrumentalist frameworks bates 2016. Conflict prevention sanam naraghi anderlini and victoria stanski conflict exists in all countries and in every level of society. Pdf main apporaches to the definition of ethnic conflicts. The ethnic dimension to social relations can be distinguished from dimensions based on neighbourliness, national origin, race and religion etc. If two people or groups are in conflict, they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have not yet reached agreement. Pdf ethnoterritoriality and ethnic conflict adam moore. Related terms are multiethnic federalism and ethnofederalism this type of federation is identified above all with the governance of meles zenawi from the 1990s in ethiopia, where it has sometimes been known as zenawism. Conflict causes social disorder, chaos and confusion. Linking instrumentalist and primordialist theories of. The significance of a shared ethnic origin varies with the.
Ethnic, or interethnic, conflict refers to disputes between contending groups who identify themselves primarily on the basis of ethnic criteria and who make group claims to resources on the basis. Pdf the ethnic dimension to social relations can be distinguished from. By lowering the cost of enforcing membership in the winning group, ethnic diversity makes the latter less susceptible to expost inltration by members of the losing one. We currently offer three portals to access these data. Ethnic conflict constitutes a major challenge to international peace and security. Once ethnic conflict breaks out, it is difficult to stop.
Theory and facts this copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. Ethnic conflict is defined as any episode of sustained violent conflict in which national, ethnic, and religious or other communal minorities challenge governments to seek major changes in status bates et. Such conflicts have existed all over the world for centuries, but in the last 20 years, after the fall of communism, they are in the focus of public attention due to the war in rwanda, the events in eastern europe, and the. Try to keep any conflict between you and your expartner to a minimum. Conflict trends and conflict drivers an empirical assessment of historical conflict patterns and future conflict projections thomas s. But ethnic peace means an absence of violence, not an absence of conflict. It presents a framework for understanding the origins and management of ethnic conflict, and recommends how the international community can intervene more effectively. It presents a framework for understanding the origins and management of ethnic conflict, and recommends. A large share of contemporary violence and disintegration in the world stems from ethnic conflicts both intrastate,such as within northern ireland and canada,or with an interstate link,as in the ethnic confrontations in afghanistan,cyprus,iraq. Instrumental rationality entails a strict costbenefit calculus with respect to goals, necessi. Ethnic federalism is a federal system of national government in which the federated units are defined according to ethnicity. Conflict between ethnicities is a phenomenon that has occurred for hundreds of years and in all corners of the earth.
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