Human Dimensions of Ethnic Conflict Dr. Jared O. Bell, Assistant Professor of International Relations & Public Administration Faculty of Business and Administration International University of Sarajevo

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What do theories of conflict do? What do you think theories of conflict do? What do theories of conflict do?

Conflict Theories are… Conflict theories are perspectives in sociology and social psychology that emphasize the social, political, or material inequality of a social group, that critique the broad socio-political system. Conflict Theories are…

Conflict Theories give us a Marco-Analysis Conflict theories draw attention to power differentials, such as class conflict, and generally contrast historically dominant ideologies. It is therefore a macro level analysis of society.  Conflict Theories give us a Marco-Analysis

Pruitt and Kim note that by conflict they mean people’s feelings about what is basically desirable. They use the term interests instead of values and or needs. Interests tend to be central to people’s thinking and action, forming the core of many of their attitudes, goals, and intentions. Conflict and Interest

Conflict and Interests (Cont). There are several dimensions of can be described as interests. What are some of these dimensions? Can some interests be seen as universal? What might some of these be? Conflict and Interests (Cont).

Interests and Aspirations Before interests can clash with those of others, these interest must be translated into aspirations, mental representations of these things that one party strives for or believes it must achieve. Why do you think interests have be articulated into aspirations before they cause clashes? Interests and Aspirations

Conflict and Aspirations Conflict exists when one party sees its own and another parties aspirations as incompatible. Why? Why do you think this is? Conflict and Aspirations

Human needs theorists argue that one of the primary causes of protracted or intractable conflict is people's unyielding drive to meet their unmet needs on the individual, group, and societal level. Basic Human Needs

Human Needs Spelled out Safety/Security -- the need for structure, predictability, stability, and freedom from fear and anxiety. Belongingness/Love -- the need to be accepted by others and to have strong personal ties with one's family, friends, and identity groups. Self-esteem -- the need to be recognized by oneself and others as strong, competent, and capable. It also includes the need to know that one has some effect on her/his environment. Personal fulfillment -- the need to reach one's potential in all areas of life. Identity -- goes beyond a psychological "sense of self." Burton and other human needs theorists define identity as a sense of self in relation to the outside world. Identity becomes a problem when one's identity is not recognized as legitimate, or when it is considered inferior or is threatened by others with different identifications. Cultural security -- is related to identity, the need for recognition of one's language, traditions, religion, cultural values, ideas, and concepts. Freedom -- is the condition of having no physical, political, or civil restraints; having the capacity to exercise choice in all aspects of one's life. Distributive justice -- is the need for the fair allocation of resources among all members of a community. Participation -- is the need to be able to actively partake in and influence civil society. Do you agree that if these needs are not met that they can be a source of conflict? What are some other needs that we may consider? Human Needs Spelled out

Structural violence is a term commonly ascribed to Johan Galtung, which he introduced in the article "Violence, Peace, and Peace Research" (1969).[1] It refers to a form of violence wherein some social structure or social institution may harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. Structural Violence

Structural Violence (Cont.) Institutionalized adultism, ageism, classism, elitism, ethnocentris m, nationalism, racism, and sexism are some examples of structural violence as proposed by Galtung.  According to Galtung, rather than conveying a physical image, structural violence is an "avoidable impairment of fundamental human needs".  As it is avoidable, structural violence is a high cause of premature death and unnecessary disability. Because structural violence affects people differently in various social structures, it is very closely linked to social injustice. Structural violence and direct violence are said to be highly interdependent, including family violence, gender violence, hate crimes, racial violence, police violence, state violence, terrorism, and war Structural Violence (Cont.)

Galtung’s Triangle of Violence

Realities of Structural Violence Do you agree with this theory? What are some examples, where we can see structural violence? Realities of Structural Violence

Relative deprivation is the experience of being deprived of something to which one believes to be entitled. It refers to the discontent people feel when they compare their positions to others and realize that they have less of what they believe themselves to be entitled than compared to those around them. Parties feel deprived compared to a reasonable standard What are some examples? Relative Deprevation

Effects of Relative Deprivation Relative Deprivation alerts part to the existence of incompatible interests Second the frustration and indignation associated with relative deprivation are a source of energy that increases the likelihood and vigor of efforts to cope with deprivation. How do you think this applies in long term protracted conflicts? Effects of Relative Deprivation

Conditions that Encourage Conflict Scarcity Rapidly Expanding Achievement Zero-Sum thinking Ambiguity About Relative Power Invidious Comparison Status inconsistency Distrusts Conditions that Encourage Conflict

Realistic Conflict Theory The theory explains how intergroup hostility can arise as a result of conflicting goals and competition over limited resources, and it also offers an explanation for the feelings of prejudice and discrimination  toward the outgroup that accompany the intergroup hostility. Groups may be in competition for a real or perceived scarcity of resources such as money, political power, military protection, or social status.[1] Feelings of resentment can arise in the situation that the groups see the competition over resources as having a zero-sums fate, in which only one group is the winner (obtained the needed or wanted resources) and the other loses (unable to obtain the limited resource due to the "winning" group achieving the limited resource first). What are some examples?? Realistic Conflict Theory

Social Identity Theory A social identity is the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group.[1] As originally formulated by Henri Tajfel and John Turner in the 1970s and the 1980s,[2]social identity theory introduced the concept of a social identity as a way in which to explain intergroup behaviour Social Identity Theory

For groups to work hard for goals and feel deprived, they must be highly identified with their group. When there is a strong group identity, people feel deeply the suffering of any and all group members. Groups have chosen traumas that are central to this identity. Group Identity

Group Aspirations and Their Frustrations Groups usually have aspirations-group goals and standards that are shared by most group members. This can be a source of conflict. Why might a group aspirations be a source of conflict and frustration with other groups? Group Aspirations and Their Frustrations

Theories of Ethnic Conflict The causes of ethnic conflict are debated by political scientists and sociologists. Explanations generally fall into one of three schools of thought: primordial's, instrumentalist, and constructivist. More recent scholarship draws on all three schools. Theories of Ethnic Conflict

Proponents of primordialist accounts argues that "[e]thnic groups and nationalities exist because there are traditions of belief and action towards primordial objects such as biological features and especially territorial location. asserts that each person has a natural connection to perceived kinsmen. In time and through repeated conflict, essential ties to one's ethnicity will coalesce and will interfere with ties to civil society. Ethnic groups will consequently always threaten the survival of civil governments but not the existence of nations formed by one ethnic group.[Thus, ethnic conflict in multi-ethnic society is inevitable through a primordial lens. Is this true?? What are some examples we can draw? Primordialist

This new theory sought explained persistence as the result of the actions of community leaders, "who used their cultural groups as sites of mass mobilization and as constituencies in their competition for power and resources, because they found them more effective than social classes".]In this account of ethnic identification, ethnicity and race are viewed as instrumental means to achieve particular ends.[ Whether ethnicity is a fixed perception or not is not crucial in the instrumentalist accounts. Instrumentalists

Constructivist, set of accounts stress the importance of the socially constructed nature of ethnic group. Is this true? What are some examples? Constructivists

Which Theory Makes more sense? What theory carries more merit? Do they all offer us something in the way of understanding ethnic conflict? Which Theory Makes more sense?

Questions?!!!