Ethnic Conflict Ch. 1-3

Front 1

What are collective identities?

Back 1

•Ethnic awareness leads to a group that shares common attributes and associates with each other
•Most people identify with many characteristics and groups
•Ethnic identities are not fixed
•Ethnic groups can claim “homeland status”

Front 2

what is the relationship between ethnicity and class?

Back 2

• Ethnicity can easily become associated with a certain class but not always
•Ethnicity can also cross class lines
•Cultural/ethnic divisions of labor are common

Front 3

ethnic citizenship?

Back 3

•Some countries (Japan) citizenship is ethnically determined and others (US) citizenship is determined by residence and commitment to state institutions

Front 4

what is an ethnic group?

Back 4

people with characteristics they are born with, ascribed not acquired
•Color of skin
•Language
•Common historical experience/culture
•Tribe
•Religion?? People of all religions are not necessarily united.

Front 5

what is political significance?

Back 5

the groups must organize and be large enough to be recognized by the state.

Front 6

What is ethnic sentiment?

Back 6

an expression of who I am, how I identify myself and to what group of people I belong to.
•As a member of a group I gain a collective identity—when this becomes an interest group it is known as identity politics

Front 7

what is the impact of globalization on ethnic solidarity?

Back 7

•Expected that globalization would reduce ethnic tensions
oLead to global citizenship—larger identities
oActually ethnic identities have become stronger
•Economic insecurity allows for people to come together
•People feel they are losing their identity or culture—defensive reaction to gain stronger ethnic ties

Front 8

What is the primordialist view?

Back 8

oEthnic solidarity developed over time in response to threats to families and extended families, developed customs and belief systems passed on through socialization
oCollective memories reinforced by myths—victories and defeats in battles contribute to collective memories (collective traumas).
oBiological version—genetic continuity, continuation of blood line, culture to be used by succeeding generations

Front 9

What is the instrumentalist view?

Back 9

oEthnic solidarities not natural, they are created by political entrepreneurs and other to serve their interests—colonial domination in the past

Front 10

what is the social constructionist view?

Back 10

oEthnic identities and solidarities created by intellectuals in society, particularly in academia
oIdentities are imagined and narratives written to substantiate the imagined, what is imagined can also be unimagined.

Front 11

What is a nation?

Back 11

a group of people who feel united and therefore different from others. Us vs. them.
oEthnic group can become a nation when they have enough political ambition and have a homeland of their own.

Front 12

Nation vs nationalism?

Back 12

defined boundary and wanting to dominate based on your nation

Front 13

ethnic group vs nation?

Back 13

an ethnic group may or may not have the political ambition to become a nation.
•Ex. American Indians: have certain territorial rights, and are close to being nations.

Front 14

What does conquest have to do with ethnic plurality?

Back 14

•Invasion leads to conflict between native homeland peoples and invaders—sometimes peaceful
•Romans in England, and then Danes and Saxons
•Russian empire

Front 15

What does annexation have to do with ethnic plurality?

Back 15

•Gift of territory through bribe or exchange
•Sale of Property—Louisiana purchase (Creole)
•Arbitrary drawing of state boundaries by colonial powers—Africa
•Durand line between Afghanistan and Pakistan (pushtuns, NWFP)

Front 16

What does settler migration have to do with ethnic plurality?

Back 16

oMovements of larger groups of people with intentions to take over and “settle” the area.
oGenerally there are already other groups of people inhabiting

Front 17

What does voluntary movement have to do with ethnic plurality?

Back 17

oSmall groups in search of money, political freedom, or escape from oppression
oOften, at the beginning, occupy the lowest socio-economic level
oOften congregate together for security and form diasporas
oImmigration is a significant political issue

Front 18

what does coerced migration have to do wtih ethnic plurality?

Back 18

oSlavery
o indentured servants
orefugees—warfare, ethnic cleansings
ooften results in diasporas in the new countries

Front 19

self determination?

Back 19

• In many situations self-determination does not have to mean independence—especially when the outcome could be violent
oMinority rights or self government are a compromise
•2Self-determination was originally created for territorial integrity—but with such mass migration the concept may need to be redefined.