PSPA 101-Chapter+8+PSPA+101+Nationalism

Chapter 8: Nationalism and Ethnic Conflicts

Outline

  • Ethnicity and Nationalism

  • Relationship between ethnicity and nationalism

  • Ethnicity as an issue

  • General problems of nationalism and ethnic conflicts

  • Putting ethno-nationalist conflict on the international agenda

  • Impact of unipolarity and globalization on ethnic conflict presentation

  • Managing Ethnic Conflict

Ethnicity

  • Based on attachment to people sharing the same culture

  • Involves a shared history and a sense of solidarity

  • Associated with specific geographical places

  • Encompasses shared culture and way of life

Nationalism

  • A modern concept that politicizes ethnic differences

  • A distinct form of patriotism emphasizing national identity

  • Citizens must identify with a nation for full rights

  • Nations must be secure for global peace and justice to prevail

What is Nationalism?

  • Describes two phenomena:

    1. Attitudes of national identity care among members

    2. Actions taken for self-determination

Spread of Nationalism Across Europe

  • Fueled by Napoleon’s conquests, spreading nationalism to Europe and the Middle East

  • Backfired, turning European nationalism against France

Characteristics of Nationalism

  • Can lead to inflated notions of national pride and military strength

  • Rhetoric often encourages aggression towards other nations

  • Seen as inevitable within Europe, leading to climate for war

Nationalism and Authoritarianism

  • Used by leaders to rally nations for war

  • Direct connection between nationalism and authoritarian governance

  • National superiority ideas can lead to conflicts, sparking new rises in nationalism globally

Types of Nationalism

  • Cultural Nationalism: Citizenship based on shared culture

  • Civic Nationalism: Citizenship via adherence to a nation's legal system

  • Ethnic Nationalism: Citizenship based on ethnic group belonging

  • Racial Nationalism: Based on inclusion within the same racial group

  • Religious Nationalism: Citizenship linked to a specific religion

Nations as Political Community

  • Nations bond through shared citizenship rather than cultural/ethnic loyalty

  • Political entities emphasize civic loyalties and seek independence or statehood

  • Nationalism is a complex, diverse political phenomenon

Relationship between Ethnicity and Nationalism

  • Complex due to overlapping identities

    1. Many Scots identify as both Scottish and British

    2. Catalans regard themselves as both Spaniards and Catalans

    3. Some Britons feel both British and French

Causes of Ethnic Conflict

  • Often labeled as internal; overlooked external factors include

    1. Colonial practices

    2. Poor governance

    3. Social injustice

Ethnic Tensions

  • Exist globally, with varying scope, urgency, intensity, and visibility

  • Rare ethnic conflicts in developed countries post-1945; notable cases include Northern Ireland and Spain’s Basque region

Success Factors in Addressing Ethnic Challenges

  • Related to wealth, democratic culture, power decentralization, and the existence of stable regions

Empirical Analysis of Global Minorities

  • Global Minority Disadvantage: 275 groups at risk, high percentage in Sub-Saharan Africa

Nationalism Defined by Ethnic Groups

  • Creating nation-states on ethnic terms leads to exclusion of non-majority groups

  • Historical examples of conflict such as the Armenian Genocide (1.5 million deaths) and the Holocaust

International Organizations & Ethnic Conflicts

  • Major Military Deployments: Targeting prolonged inter-ethnic violence in areas like Bosnia, Kosovo, and others

  • Peacekeeping: Ongoing operations in Lebanon and Cyprus.

War Crimes Tribunals

  • Established by UN to investigate and punish war law violations in Yugoslavia and Rwanda

  • OSCE's role in addressing national minority rights

NATO's Role

  • Created implementation and Kosovo forces for stability and inter-ethnic relations

  • UNMIK coordinates efforts in Kosovo regeneration

International Response Mechanisms

  • African Union: Emphasizes peace and security, early warning systems

General Problems of Nationalism and Ethnic Conflicts

  • Human rights abuses, genocide, forced assimilation, and refugee crises

Factors Influencing International Agenda on Ethnic Conflicts

  1. Effective Links: Cultural connections affecting involvement in conflicts

  2. Geo-strategic and Economic Interests: Powerful states' hesitations in addressing conflicts due to economic ties

  3. Geopolitical Locations: Importance of conflict areas based on their proximity to Western Europe

  4. Role of NGOs: In addressing human rights abuses during ethnic conflicts

Impact of Unipolarity and Globalization

  • Diminished focus on ethnic conflicts in post-9/11 international politics

  • Shifted security threats towards WMD, rogue states, and terrorism

Managing Ethnic Conflicts

  • Long-term solutions needed:

    • Basic service restoration, refugee resettlement, demilitarization

    • Promote human rights through education, develop judicial systems.