Review article
Ethnic Conflict and Development: a Review of Some of the Research
Jadranka Čačić-Kumpes
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Zlatković Winter
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper analyses some basic concepts and problems in respect to ethnicity, conflict and development. In the framework of the theory pertaining to ethnicity and modernisation (and development), a review is given of about fifteen case studies presented at a scientific conference, organised by UNRISD within the project Ethnic Conflict and Development. During the conference, held in Dubrovnik in June 1991, studies were presented on (manifest and latent) ethnic conflicts in Belgium, Burundi, Ethiopia and the Sudan, Guayana, Guatemala, India, Yugoslavia, South Africa, Lebanon, Malesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, the USSR and Sri Lanka. Although the authors did not have a fixed scheme with which to tackle the diversity of individual cases, all of them attempted to define basic concepts, describe the causes leading to the appearance and expansion of certain conditions, and indicate possible ways of solving ethnic conflicts. Thus this paper also begins with a theoretic framework in which the basic concepts are defined: the ethnic group, ethnic identity and conflict, modernisation. Special attention is given to objective (language, religion, territory, social organisation, culture, race) and subjective traits (individual group consciousness, internalisation of group values and symbols, beliefs in common origin, heritage, traits and a common destiny) pertaining to ethnic identity and the existence of ethnic groups. Ethnic conflict, the consequence of ethnic mobilisation, is shown in five case studies: i.e. in the case of five countries (Belgium, Burundi, Guayana, Yugoslavia and Pakistan) with diverse histories, diverse political systems and internal constitutions, with diverse circumstances in which ethnic conflict developed and appeared, and with diverse attempts to resolve it. Examination of these actual cases indicates that ethnicity essentially and permanently characterises human societies, whereas the review of theoretic approaches (primordially, culturological, normative, Marxist and the theory of rational choice) shows that that there is no complex approach to “the ethnic question”. In recent decades the modernisation paradigm was often used in studying ethnic conflict. The cases presented indicate a linkage between modernisation and the ethnic phenomenon. It could be generally said (taking into account many specificities) that, in as must as the institutions of civic society are more developed, the chances of obtaining ethnic loyalty shall be greater. The growth of ethnic conflicts, however, shows that contemporary states, whether they be modern or not, have little understanding for ethnic demands. The real problem of ethno-politics in the on-coming period shall be (the authors accept the conclusion reached at the conference in Dubrovnik) – the question both of self-determination and the weakening of states, and this shall mean new responsibilities for the international system.
Keywords
ethnicity; ethnic conflict; ethnic identity; modernisation; ethnic group; case study
Hrčak ID:
127429
URI
Publication date:
10.12.1991.
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