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WHY DO ETHNIC GROUPS FIGHT? •What is an ethnic group?: •(1) Shared cultural markers? •(2) Strong psychological attachment of belonging to the group •(3) Shared sense of common history and ancestry •Some other key terms: diasporas, nationalism, self-determination, secession, ethno-religious; irredentialism PRIMORDIALISTS: THE “HARD” PERSPECTIVE OF ETHNICITY? Ethnic identities: •Are based on a strong sense of commonality (assumed biological kinship) •Ascriptive identities; firmly-bounded, and persist over time •A fundamental cause of ethnocentrism, outward hostility (hate), and a desire to dominate •Spawn collective behaviors based on passion (vs. calculation) & self-sacrifice for group •Not easily subjugated to calming pressures by elites INSTRUMENTALISTS: THE “SOFT” PERSPECTIVE OF ETHNICITY Ethnic identities: •Are social constructions: Formed by individuals who share overlapping strategic and material interests •Are highly malleable—both in rigidity and influence—according to contextual pressures •Generally overlap more meaningful cleavages: Class, material differences, and issues •Reflect the needs of individual members rather than serving some transcendent purpose •Are easily manipulated by elites WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH ETHNIC CONFLICT? •Ethnic conflict is unusually subject to manipulation by leaders •Biological impulses, aggression, & territoriality at the group level •Ethnicity & stereotyping are vessels for ancient hatreds •Ethnic identity leads to misperceptions by leaders •Ethnic conflict is a product of modernization? •Are tribal instincts becoming more important than ever because we don’t need the state like we used to? •Does globalization make everyone want the same material things, so that groups that used to want different things now fight? •Makes visible divisions that would otherwise go unnoticed WILL WE HAVE MORE ETHNIC VIOLENCE? Huntington’s thesis: •Nationalism, ideological, and material-based conflict is being replaced by civilizational conflict. Why?: •We’ve gotten better at dealing with the other kind of conflict. •Globalization: (1) Our band of brothers is larger; (2) Our contact with the “other” is more frequent •The modern media and “kin” countries •Weaker states •The decline of the west •Is it the west vs. the rest? •Isn’t most conflict today about separation rather than joining one’s civilization?