Ethnic Conflict and International Security
INTRODUCTION
Within the borders of most of states there exist numerous ethnic, national, racial, linguistic or cultural groups. In other words, the majority of states are composed of more than one ethnic group. Sometimes these groups are not accepted as full members of this state or the nation, which it purports to be or presented, or who actually excluded from it. In such circumstance number of ethnic groups demands more rights and recognition that leads in many cases to ethnic conflict If not checked, ethnic conflicts are contagious and can spread quickly across borders like cancer cells.
THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO ETHNICITY AND ETHNIC CONFLICT
Ethnic groups are defined as a community of people who share cultural and linguistic characteristics including history, tradition, myth, and origin. Scholars have been trying to develop a theoretical approach to ethnicity and ethnic conflict for a long time. Some, like Donald Horowitz, Ted Gurr, Donald Rothschild and Edward Azar, agree that the ethnic conflicts experienced today especially in Africa are deep rooted. These conflicts over race, religion, language and identity have become so complex that they are difficult to resolve or manage. Ethnicity has a strong influence on one 's status in a community. Ethnic conflicts are therefore often caused by an attempt to secure more power or access more resources.
CAUSES OF ETHNIC CONFLICT
Several factors have been identified as the major causes of ethnic conflict, these are:
Economic factors: has been identified as one of the major causes of conflict. Theorists believe that competition for scarce resources is a common factor in almost all ethnic conflicts especially in Africa.
Psychology: is another major cause of ethnic conflict and is the fear and insecurity of ethnic groups during transition. It has been opined that extremists build upon these fears to polarize the society. Additionally, memories of past traumas magnify these anxieties. These interactions
Within the borders of most of states there exist numerous ethnic, national, racial, linguistic or cultural groups. In other words, the majority of states are composed of more than one ethnic group. Sometimes these groups are not accepted as full members of this state or the nation, which it purports to be or presented, or who actually excluded from it. In such circumstance number of ethnic groups demands more rights and recognition that leads in many cases to ethnic conflict If not checked, ethnic conflicts are contagious and can spread quickly across borders like cancer cells.
THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO ETHNICITY AND ETHNIC CONFLICT
Ethnic groups are defined as a community of people who share cultural and linguistic characteristics including history, tradition, myth, and origin. Scholars have been trying to develop a theoretical approach to ethnicity and ethnic conflict for a long time. Some, like Donald Horowitz, Ted Gurr, Donald Rothschild and Edward Azar, agree that the ethnic conflicts experienced today especially in Africa are deep rooted. These conflicts over race, religion, language and identity have become so complex that they are difficult to resolve or manage. Ethnicity has a strong influence on one 's status in a community. Ethnic conflicts are therefore often caused by an attempt to secure more power or access more resources.
CAUSES OF ETHNIC CONFLICT
Several factors have been identified as the major causes of ethnic conflict, these are:
Economic factors: has been identified as one of the major causes of conflict. Theorists believe that competition for scarce resources is a common factor in almost all ethnic conflicts especially in Africa.
Psychology: is another major cause of ethnic conflict and is the fear and insecurity of ethnic groups during transition. It has been opined that extremists build upon these fears to polarize the society. Additionally, memories of past traumas magnify these anxieties. These interactions
Bibliography: 1. Ethnic Conflict Management in Africa: By Emmy Godwin Irobi, May 2005 2. Peace Pledge Union, Britain 3. Ethnic Conflict and International Security by Michael Brown, Princeton University