Ethnic conflicts test security

Ethnic conflicts test security

By Anak Agung Banyu Perwita

BANDUNG (JP): A major problem facing pluralistic nation-states
is rising ethnic conflict among their people. Since the Cold War,
conflict between ethnic groups and states has posed major
challenges to domestic and international security in most parts
of the world.

Conceptually, ethnic conflict is a permanent form of modern
economic, social, and political struggle. In more acute
manifestations, it may turn to murderous violence and
destruction. A recent study demonstrates that since World War II,
40 ethnic groups in various parts of the world have been
victimized. Some have suffered genocide.

Ethnic conflict varies. It generally involves a struggle over
economic rights, political representation, freedom of religion,
preservation of ethnic identities or self-determination.

In other words, according to Stephen Ryan, no single factor
causes ethnic conflicts.

Graham Fueller of the RAND Corporation argues that conflict
between minority and majority groups are driven by unequal
distribution of power, prosperity and influence.

In many pluralistic communities, minority groups may find
their traditional interests suddenly questioned by the ethnic
majority. Ethnic minorities are frequently the victims of dis
crimination.

Most ethnic conflicts are started by minority groups. In
authoritarian regimes, violence escalates quickly because
official responses are more likely to be repressive than
reformist.

Furthermore, in most cases of ethnic conflict the state is not
an impartial arbiter, it takes sides in the conflict. In multi-
ethnic communities, the state is usually controlled by the
majority ethnic group which causes ethnic nationalism. This
condition exacerbates ethnic conflict and domestic security.

Most ethnic conflict in the Third World starts as intrastate
conflict, but it may develop into interstate conflict if external
parties interfere. Here, ethnic conflict spills across
territorial borders. States with close emotional ties to ethnic
groups in another State will often intervene in a conflict.

States often regard it as their right and duty to become
involved in other states' ethnic affairs. Ethnic conflict in
South Asia is an example of intrastate conflict that became
interstate conflict which, in turn, destabilized regional
security.

External involvement by other states will always have a
negative influence on ethnic conflict. Evidence suggests that
external intervention is likely to escalate a conflict and
introduce new conflicting issues and parties.

How can we resolve ethnic conflict without causing interstate
conflict or war?

Many analysts argue that the most radical way to resolve
ethnic conflict is to reconstruct state-systems so that
traditional territorial borders correspond more closely to the
social and cultural boundaries of people.

A pluralist paradigm contends, in this case, that there would
be a fundamental change from territorial-state to territorial
community. The state-system would also alter from an
international system to an intersocietal system.

A more open and constructive way to resolve conflict is to
recognize and strengthen communal groups within an existing
state's system.

Elise Boulding, for instance, argues that devolving authority
of communal groups will not only resolve fundamental structural
problems of modern states but will strengthen nationalism.

Nationalism, in this case, is the key to building a country's
nationhood. Above all, we need to develop an open society in
order to facilitate economic, political and cultural differences
among people. An open society is based on democratic values which
acknowledge differences in the community.

In conclusion, ethnic differences challenge international
relations as well as statesmen and policy makers. We need a
better understanding of the complexities of changing domestic and
international situations, which are highly relevant at the end
the twentieth century.

The writer is a lecturer at the Department of International
Relations, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung.