The existence of conflicts between groups with different goals, values, and identities is a building block in human history as it leads to the formation and reshaping of the world. One of the identities considered a potential source of conflict is ethnicity. However, understanding ethnicity and its specific description depends on the author and proposed theory. The following articles discuss ethnicity and conflicts related to ethnic differences.
The first article is a discussion by Chandra, in which the author analyzes the existence and importance of ethnic identity. The definition of ethnic identity often includes such characteristics as religion, culture, religion, and color, which makes the term vague and difficult to use (Chandra, 2006). For example, Christians or Muslims in different countries can be considered both a single and a separate ethnic group if one takes a different set of characteristics into consideration. Therefore, the researcher suggests a new classification, basing one’s ethnicity on descent and related attributes (Chandra, 2006). Following this logic, Chandra (2006) argues that ethnicity does not matter in most situations because conflicts, violence, and other events are based on different aspects that cannot be linked to one’s descent-based traits. This article’s conclusion presents an interesting idea that challenges one’s view of ethnicity.
The topic of ethnicity and wars is continued in the second article by Bar-Tal and Halperin. The authors approach the issue of intractable conflicts from the point of psychology. They review the nature of intractable conflicts, their stages, and the emotions that guide people through these instances. Using the information from the previous article, one may see that the authors include the more obscure definition of ethnicity, including religion, culture, and other characteristics unrelated to one’s descent. They describe seven main traits of an intractable conflict, including their totality, violent nature, a lack of possible compromise, perception as irresolvable, centrality in people’s lives, vast investment, and prolonged duration (Bar-Tal & Halperin, 2013). The three main phases of such conflicts are eruption, escalation, and de-escalation. The researchers discuss each stage, presenting the primary emotions that influence groups to enter the conflict and invest their physical and emotional resources into its progression.
Finally, the last article presents another view on ethnic conflicts and analyzes the distinction between religion and language as the two potential factors in a civil war. Reynal-Querol (2002) argues that ethnic civil war occurs more frequently on the basis of religious polarization than linguistic differences. Moreover, the view of various religions in one society determines the groups’ responses to one another. According to Reynal-Querol (2002), polarization as a process of actively finding differences negatively impacts the society’s ability to avoid civil war. The author suggests that the presence of religious polarization, in particular, may be one of the most critical forces behind civil war, being more significant than economic factors. Finally, Reynal-Querol (2002) discusses the ways of reducing the risk of conflict in racially and ethnically diverse communities through politics. Consociational democracies are found to be the best political approach to decreasing the incidence of civil war. They increase the representation and support of diverse communities regardless of the majority in society.
Overall, the articles present a variety of views on ethnicity as a part of one’s identity. The researchers consider different definitions of ethnicity, and their description of this term determines their interpretation of conflicts in diverse societies nationally and internationally. In particular, the unique view of religion as a part of one’s ethnicity raises questions on how people in various parts of the world perceive racial, cultural, and religious characteristics.
References
Bar-Tal, D., & Halperin, E. (2013). The psychology of intractable conflicts: Eruption, escalation, and peacemaking. In L. Huddy, D. O. Sears, & J. S. Levy (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of political psychology (pp. 923–956). Oxford University Press.
Chandra, K. (2006). What is ethnic identity and does it matter?Annual Review of Political Science, 9, 397–424. Web.
Reynal-Querol, M. (2002). Ethnicity, political systems, and civil wars. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 46(1), 29–54.