A strong nexus intertwines ethnicity, politics and conflict in the field of peace and conflict studies as well as other social sciences. In circumstances where ethnicity is at the centre of political mobilisation, ethnic identities have the potential to sabotage peace and unity in a country. According to Kanbur et al., (2009) [include in the bibliography] the connection of conflict to ethnic identity rests on a number of conceptual and methodological issues. They contend that a central issue is the force of ethnicity which is manifested in two ways. Ethnicity is useful in marking individual identity and quite forceful when boundary issues of maintenance and perpetuation threat are encountered (Kanbur et al., 2009). 2.2. Global perspectives …show more content…
The significance of ethnicity in African politics is hardly disputed in the literature (Erdman, 2007b:13). Scholars such as Mohammed Salih and Nordlund (2007:26) have noted that the “continent has its fair share of developing countries instrumental use of political politicised inter-ethnic relations, enhanced by and at times combined with equally diverse, linguistic, religious and regional cleavages and rivalries”. In adding on to this argument Nyoroge and Kirori (2014:362) observed that “ethnic identities are political in character and act as a pole around which members are mobilised and effectively compete for control of state power and economic resources”. The politicisation of ethnic identities has fuelled conflicts in several African countries. Vivid examples can be drawn from ethnic wars and tensions that have occurred throughout Sub-Saharan Africa in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and …show more content…
In Cote d’Ivoire, Berman (2010) reveals that in the violent conflicts that exploded in the country in 2002 ethnicity as self-identification was linked to autochthony as the basis of national identity. Berman (2010:…..) [cititation needed] stresses that the conflict was seeing as both a struggle over land and of the definition of citizenship of true Ivoirians defined by ‘ivoirité’ as opposed to foreigners and strangers. In the case of Ghana, Arthur (2009:53) in an article, “Ethnicity and Electoral Politics in Ghana’s Fourth Republic” has concluded that while the issue of ethnicity is difficult to determine, it remains a factor in Ghanaian politics. Arthur (2009:53) has further elaborated that during elections, ethnicity is sometimes both overtly and covertly invoked despite constitutional provisions that seek to undermine and devalue ethnicity as the basis of electoral activities. Thus during presidential elections, there is some evidence of voting along ethnic lines mainly between the Akan (Asante) and Ewes. This study showed that the NPP does exceptionally well in the Ashanti Region, while the NDC does exceptionally well in the Volta
Throughout the book, Dower discusses the different aspects of a war based on race and nationalities. Dower covered the steps that take place in a war of race and devastating results that occur. He used the events of the war in the Pacific and specifically, the actions of the Americans and Japanese against each other. The main thesis of his work is best summarized in this, there is great positivity for humanity that can occur as a result of putting racial and nationalistic differences aside, however, there are still many looming possible results that can occur when there is a sense of focusing on negatives of differences one of these results could be a brutal war.
Everyday the future in America looks brighter for the issues dealing with race and identity. Brave souls are not letting racism, class discrimination, or sexism hold them back anymore. Furthermore, the fight for a balanced society that pushes for equality is on the horizon. As we close on an era, based on purely the skin of the person, we need to analyze the impacts of the Ethnicity paradigm and Class paradigm on politics of the 20th century. Race and Ethnicity are used interchangeable in everyday conversation, however; they are not the same.
This essay argues that states that are ethnically and culturally similar are more likely to engage in conflicts over
Africa In World Politics: Engaging a Changing Global Order by John Harbenson and Donald Rothchild gives an analysis of how Africa has changed from being a European ruled colonial nation to a nation that it creating a name for itself in the global sphere. Beginning with Africa’s politics during the colonial era through the present. The book provides not only details about Africa but also how the changing world has affected African politics. The main focus of this book is to show the growth Africa has had since its time of colonization. Africa has grown as the world has changed although it has had to deal with internal conflicts and demands for political change due to its authoritarian regimes.
I believe the peacemakers are a viable source of racial tensions, not only do they hold expertise in conflicts with racial issues but they focus all their time on these kinds of situations. The peacemakers have provided many years of great service to various cities all across the country who have had race situations and have eased racial conflicts between race groups. The peacemakers are a viable alternative to traditional law enforcement methods since law enforcement can sometimes not hold the proper knowledge to handle situations within the community that involve race. Patrol officers in City Police Departments or County Sheriff 's Department 's can only do so much in regards to racial tensions, as we have seen for many years, it usually
Both, race-conflict approach and multiculturalism, coincide with each other in the way that they explain the importance of equality among all races in the United States. They both focus on social conflict and diversity within this melting pot of a country. Race and culture encourage two diverse ideas, however they share similar goals of broadening people’s knowledge on the importance of other cultures contributions in the Americas and around the world. Equally, they share views and strong opinions on how the English way of life is not the only way people need to abide by anymore. In which, everyone is entitled to live the way there culture does without any outside dictatorship.
The world must evolve to an international age in which we make comparisons on global connections which in the long run will be
However, countries only fight over power because they have seen and heard of wars where people have fought for power and so they want power just as much as anyone else. Such as WWI (Germans), WWII (Adolf Hitler), and the Civil Wars (African americans wanted freedom.) Nevertheless life in Africa was and is full of conflict because societies wanted power over countries in Africa. Such as Tutsis and Hutus when they fought for control over Rwanda or when they fought because they believed that the dominating race (Tutsis) wanted power because they had long skinny noses and the Hutus had big thick noses and they believed they were overpowering.
Conflict Theory American society today is made up of all three of the theories. In my opinion, these theories all thrive off each other as a whole. I feel that the chain is something like this, Symbolic Interactionism, as well as Functionalism, lead into Conflict Theory. However, I feel that Conflict Theory is by far the largest component American society is made from, here is why! First I would like to touch on Symbolic Interactionism, symbols we attach value or meaning.
Because of the artificial divisions formed during the imperialism of Africa in the 19th century, communities and cultures were destroyed and civil unrest became more frequent. “ Second, employing data on the location of civil conflicts after independence we show that compared to ethnicities that have not been impacted by the border design, partitioned ethnic groups have suffered significantly more, longer, and more devastating civil wars. Third, we find that economic development —as reflected by satellite data on light density at night- is systematically lower in the historical homeland of partitioned ethnicities” (“The Long-Run Effects” 0). This invasive manipulation of ethnic groups can still be seen
Miller’s conception of “nationality” is inspired by John Stuart Mill’s writing in Chapter 16 of Considerations on Representative Government. In defending his principle of nationality, Miller takes into account three interconnected propositions – proposition concerning national identity, ethical proposition, and political proposition. Not withstanding the introduction and conclusion, the book is divided into five chapters. Miller dedicates one chapter each to the propositions concerning national identity (chapter 2) and ethical proposition (chapter 3), and two chapters (chapter 4 and chapter 5) to the political proposition. Specifically, chapter 2 discusses what it means to have a national identity and if this identity is rationally defensible; chapter 3 talks about the ethical significance in determining the duties we have as both individual and citizen; chapter 4 explores how the issues of sovereignty, self-determination and secession fit into the paradigm of nationalism; and chapter 5 confronts the conflict between nationality and cultural pluralism.
Introduction The concept of identity has been a notion of significant interest not just to sociologists and psychologists, but also to individuals found in a social context of perpetually trying to define themselves. Often times, identities are given to individuals based on their social status within a certain community, after the assessment of predominant characteristics that said individual has. However, within the context of an ethnicity, the concept identity is most probably applied to all members of the ethnical group, and not just one individual. When there is one identity designated for the entire group, often times the factor of “individuality” loses its significance, especially when referring to the relationship between the ethnic
He contends that when an individual or group is denied its major requirement for identity, security, acknowledgment or equivalent investment inside of the general public, extended conflict is inescapable. To determine such conflict, it is essential that needs that are debilitated be distinguished and along these lines rebuilding of connections or the social framework happen in a way that needs of all people and groups are suited (Burton John, 1991,p82). For instance, this model can be helpful in the cases of African conflicts, for example, that of Darfur, Burundi, Dr Congo and Rwanda conflicts, where there are limitations on opportunity and support of its nationals in political and monetary
This unit will act as a precursor to students exploration of globalisation in Stage Three where in they will discover some of the wonderful things that can, has and will come out of it.
People are living in the era of globalization. Every year, there is an increase in the number of immigrants and emigrants to foreign countries with the purpose of living and studying. As a result, cross-culture communication takes place in many nations. Obviously, no one can learn everything about all cultures and not any culture is completely similar. This inevitably entails culture conflict.