Admittedly, there is quite a specific division between people. Even the modern globalized world is still divided into insiders and outsiders. Some researchers claim that ethnic nationalism is one of the major reasons for conflicts. For instance, Huntington (1993) and Leiken (2005) point out that ethnic nationalism has led to international conflicts in many cases.
However, Mueller (2000) argues that international conflicts as well as any other conflicts have little to do with ethnic nationalism as these conflicts are usually based on economic issues. It is necessary to note that the history of numerous conflicts can be a good confirmation of Mueller’s (2000) ideas.
Notably, many conflicts are associated with ethnic nationalism. For instance, Huntington (1993) stresses that the world is divided into civilizations.
According to the researcher, the civilizations are groups of people united by religious and/or cultural beliefs. The researcher points out that future conflicts will occur “along the cultural fault lines separating these civilizations from one another” (Huntington 1993, 25). The researcher also notes that the conflicts are inevitable in the contemporary globalized world as people witness the differences between the cultures.
Leiken (2005) also states that Western society is threatened by other groups (e.g. Muslims). The researcher provides parallels between future conflicts and existing conflicts based on ethnic nationalism. The author focuses on the case of van Gogh slaying. The researcher notes that the Muslim, Mohammed Bouyeri, killed the famous Dutch (Leiken, 2005).
The researcher mentions that many Muslim immigrants in the Western world can be a potential threat. Of course, Leiken (2005) also mentions 9/11 attacks which are also regarded as purely ethnic-based.
However, it is necessary to take a closer look at the very nature of conflicts. Mueller (2000) argues that it is impossible to assume that the entire nation can attack another nation. The researcher emphasizes that any conflict is initiated by a small group of people who pursue specific non-ethnic-based goals (Mueller 2000, 42). Mueller (2000) suggests that various groups of people employ some ethnic and cultural differences to justify some kind of violence.
It is possible to find illustration of this assumption. Mueller (2000) focuses on the conflicts in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. The researcher provides facts that confirm that the conflicts were stirred up by small groups who wanted to gain power.
The researcher also states that these conflicts often lead to enrichment of some groups. At that, the researcher stresses that these groups recruit “common, opportunistic, sadistic, and often distinctly nonideological marauders” (Mueller 2000, 43). Of course, these groups cannot be regarded as representatives of the entire nations.
On balance, it is possible to note that many people think that numerous conflicts are based on ethnic nationalism. Some researchers try to prove that some ethnic groups should be regarded as some kind of threats to other groups. However, it is hardly likely that ethnic nationalism is the basis for the international conflicts. In the majority of cases, international conflicts have been stirred up by small groups which pursued specific (political or more likely economic) goals.
Therefore, now people should not focus on such notions as civilizations clashes. Resources have been the only basis for conflicts. Therefore, people should ignore those who try to stir up some conflicts. It is important to remember that the majority of people want to live in peace, but only a small group of people can benefit from violence and international conflicts. People cannot let these groups benefit at the expense of innocent people’s lives.
Reference List
Huntington, Samuel P. 1993. The clash of civilizations? Foreign Affairs 72, no.3: 22-49.
Leiken, Robert S. 2005. “Europe’s angry Muslims.” Foreign Affairs, July/August. Web.
Mueller, John. 2000. The banality of “ethnic war”. International Security 25, no.1: 42-70.