Cultural Conflict Notes

Race vs Ethnicity Ethnic Group Race Major divisions of mankind based on physical characteristics which are deemed distinctive and significant by society. Ethnic Group A population subgroup with a common national tradition, which may include, history, language, religion and culture.

Culture: The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively Imperialism: Policy of extending a country's power/influence by diplomacy or military force. Ethnocentrism: The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture. A tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own. Racism: The belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Assimilation: A process whereby a minority group gradually gives up its own culture and adopts the culture of a majority group (often through forced assimilation) At Indian boarding schools Native American children were forced to give up their names, religion and languages, as they were taught to conform to dominate American culture. The Stolen Generation of Aboriginal Australian children of mixed ancestry were taken by the government and given to white families or Christian missionaries to be raised in order to promote assimilation.

Genocide: the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. The Armenian Genocide (1915-1922): 1 million Armenians killed by the authorities of the Ottoman Empire, at least half of the Armenians in Turkey. Rwandan Genocide (1994): 70% of the Tutsis in Rwanda killed by ruling Hutus, following the assassination of Rwandan President. The Cambodian Genocide (1975-1979): 2 million killed by the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot. Including 100% of Cambodian Viets and 50% of Cambodian Chinese. The Holocaust (1939-1945): 6 million Jew killed. About 33% of German Jews and more than 80% of non-German Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe were killed. The Bosnian Genocide (1992–1995):  Ethnic cleansing, included the Srebrenica massacre was carried out against Bosnian Muslims and Croats by Serbians.

Separatism/ Separatists: The advocacy or practice of separation of a certain group of people from a larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender. Autonomous or Semi-Autonomous Region: A subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has a degree of self-governance, or autonomy, from an external authority. Iraqi Kurdistan Basque and Catalan Region of Spain