Ethnic Conflict Ethnic Conflict between ethnic groups Ethnic

Ethnic Conflict

Ethnic Conflict between ethnic groups Ethnic groups – Share common sense of identity, culture, common history – Exists as a subgroup in a larger society or nation Sources of ethnic group identification – History, social status, race, religion – Symbols, myths, memories Nation – Culturally homogeneous groups of people, larger than a single tribe or community, which share a common language, institutions, religion, and historical experience

Why do groups fight over “small differences”?

Structural causes Disintegration of empires Quest for self determination Security dilemma

Case Study: Yugoslavia

Croatia Declares independence 1991 Recognized as independent by UN in 1992 Ethnic war between Croat and Serbs 1991 -1995 – Ethnic cleansing Population: 1996: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, other 10% 2001: Croat 89. 6%, Serb 4. 5%, other 5. 9% % Source: CIA Factbook

Bosnia-Herzegovina Declared independence in 1992 Resistance from ethnic Serbs, War between Serbs, Bosnians, Croats Dayton Agreement 1995 International peacekeepers Office of High Representatives Entities: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska

Role of Leadership Extreme groups Insecure, autocratic leadership Manipulation of symbols, ideology, history

Kosovo Province in Serbia Ethnic composition: 88% Albanian, 6% Serbs, 3% Muslim Slav, 2% Roma Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla war 1998 Milosevic sends troops to Serbian population NATO air strikes 1998 -1999 Milosevic looses power 2000, 2001 in Hague Kosovo: UN protectorate Albanians dominate parliament Spring 2004 unrest in Serb territories – 4000 Serbs fled

The Role of Democracy? Representation of ethnic groups’ interests Strengthen ethnic groups moderates Ideological moderation?

Macedonia: qualified success? Declares independence 1991 Greece objects FYR Macedonia Ethnic groups: Macedonian 64%, Albanian 25%, other 11% Democratic, multi-ethnic government 2001 – ethnic conflict broke out lead by Albanian radical group linked to KLA Governments invites peacekeeping troop: NATO and UN Conflict minimized