What Causes Ethnic Conflict? [Part II]

C) Relative Deprivation

Third reason for the ethnic conflicts, their oppressors may have been victims in the past, does little to mitigate the resentment of ethnic group members who are currently being oppressed. In other words, they are experiencing relative deprivation, a perception that the circumstances of their lives are not providing benefits to which they are justly entitled. Feelings of relative deprivation intensify, not only when benefits (including political, religious and language rights, as well as economic well being) decline, but also when expectations increase. When large numbers of an ethnic group experience relative deprivation simultaneously, the potential for spontaneous outbreaks of violence, directed at rival groups, intensifies. Historical legacies of mistrust and a victim mentality make it more likely that feelings of deprivation resulting from declining benefits or unrealized expectations will be interpreted as an ethnically motivated injustice. Contributing to deprivation is the fact that reestablishing a more equitable social order, following a period of discrimination. Sri Lanka's pro Sinhalese governments were committed to scaling down the disproportionate role played by Tamils in the nation's government and economic life. Tamils viewed this as a loss of rights to which they were entitled. Leaders of the Punjab's Akali Dal movement were committed to greater Sikh self-determination, within the framework of India's federal system. Punjabi Hindus, who stood to be the losers, viewed this as threat. The United Kingdom government would like to defuse the power of the Irish Republican Army by making concessions to Northern Ireland's Catholic population. Those concessions are viewed as a loss of historically mandated rights by Protestant loyalists. When Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe announced the new land policy, which in one or other way the white man will lost their ownership to the land they feel discriminated but then for Robert Mugabe, he is doing justice for his community which was oppressed by white man for number of decade. Thousands of the reason can be given on the relative deprivation even you can look around and do some analysis which you your self might face the same deprivation.

D) Leadership Roles

Fourth reason on why ethnic conflict is the role played by the leaders. Mahatma Gandhi is a good example on how the leadership role is crucial for the ethnic unity. He born as a Hindu but then he start his struggle for human rights for South African’s black people while he was there to practice his law. He didn’t look at other human beings as a black or white man but he be friend them without any discrimination on race or religion. He vows to go for hunger strike until his last breath if Hindu’s and Muslims refuse to stop their violence on each others. Even until today, the world still called him as MAHATMA for his contributions. Abraham Lincoln, US President went all out to out do the discrimination against the black American and as a return he sacrifices his life to a white extremist. Two of them just to name a few but then we do have the political and religious leaders play a divisive role by provocations and appealing to ethnic-nationalist sentiments by scape-goating other ethnic groups in order to enhance personal political career. "Ethnic-bashing," lead to greater ethnic tension especially among the middle class working citizens. This is happening in most of the third world countries. Ethnically bias leaders, believe they can gain when they use ethnic-bashing strategy unfortunately they fail to understand the impact on ethnic-bashing strategy.

E) Political Mobilization and the Formation of Militant Groups

The factors that we have discussed so far - historical legacies, a victim mentality, feelings of deprivation and ethnic bashing leaders - all contribute to a climate that encourages political mobilization along ethnic lines. As ethnic differences begin to polarize a society, the formation of militant groups becomes more probable. To defend their self the community will justify the formation of the group which later it might turn to violence as a survival.

We must move forward for greater achievement in our life. GOD create human’s in various races and religion to get to know each others and to learn to live together but then we fail because we let ethnically bias leaders to decide for our survival. We are killing each others in the name of religion and race. When are we going to realize about the reality on why we are here in this world? [source: http://www.american.edu/]

END.